The Only Real Thing Is the Human

You expect digital wizardry when you go to the movies.

You know the Titanic is surrounded by virtual waves to simulate the expanse of the ocean. Or that packed stadium is really 50 people duplicated a thousand times.

What you may not realize is that virtual environments are turning up in all kinds of places — such as your favorite evening news program. Or live theater shows. Or even in classrooms or boardrooms. The thing is, we are just beginning to explore the potential of this amazing technology — and Rensselaer is leading the way.

Putting the Pieces Together
Real subjects are shot on film or video, perhaps doing the sports report or teaching a history class. The background is blue or blank. The subject is “placed” in a virtual environment — created and manipulated on a computer. The sports reporter is suddenly surrounded by a basketball hoop and gridiron goalpost; the teacher is suddenly inside a medieval castle. Amazingly, the 3-D virtual set moves with the subject in real time, as if it were actually there. It’s the same composite technique filmmakers have been using for decades. But now, in the hands of computers, the background images can be created from scratch with greater detail and realism (and lower cost) than ever before. It’s just another day in one of Rensselaer’s architecture classes.

Architecture? Sounds More Like Lucas Films
Rensselaer has long believed in blending various disciplines with leading-edge technologies. Science, engineering, and other subjects are pushed to new levels via the tools of the Information Age. Our School of Architecture is no exception — where students work in high-tech labs and interactive studios, building computer-generated models and environments. The very essence of architecture is the innovative use and function of space. Thus, virtual sets are right in line with our way of thinking.

Real Vs. Virtual
So what are the benefits of virtual sets compared to real ones? Obviously, the most striking benefit is that virtual sets open up the creative playing field: If you can imagine it and render it, you can make it happen. However, they also offer a variety of practical benefits. Real sets have to be built by hand (such as that goalpost in the news studio) — which could take weeks, versus days working at a desktop. Once completed, real sets are difficult to adapt (OK, scrap the goalpost, add a hockey rink), while virtual sets can be tweaked at will. Real sets require real storage space, but virtual sets live happily in a hard drive. Plus, as the software and set-up costs continue to come down, virtual sets will become more cost-effective for “everyday” uses.

The Future: Virtually Limitless
Imagine a history class where the professor gives the students a virtual tour of Buckingham Palace. Or a corporate teleconference where the R&D team takes the marketing department inside its new car engine. Or a public television broadcast of an opera where all of the sets are computer-generated. Virtual sets make all this, and more, quite possible. Right now, Rensselaer students are helping to make it a reality .

Why Is Rensselaer a Pioneer in Virtual Sets?
Because emerging technologies are the driving force of everything we do. Because we believe in fostering both technical and creative abilities — preparing our students for success in the Information Age. Because solving real-world challenges is our mission and our passion.

Why not change the world?