Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Computer Scientists Grow a Better Virtual Tree

Posted by Soulskill on from the branching-out-from-virtual-design dept.

Reservoir Hill points us to a story about a group of computer scientists who are taking steps to bring the creation of 3-D worlds to the casual user. As a proof-of-concept, Vladlen Koltun and the Stanford Virtual Worlds Group, using data collected by botanists, have developed software to create virtual 3-D trees with roughly 100 different tree attributes, all of which are highly variable. Quoting: "The inability of casual computer users to build 3-D objects - you practically have to be a sculptor, Koltun says - is an anchor holding back the promise of virtual worlds. Koltun's software, Dryad (a tree nymph in Greek mythology,) lets users move through the 100-attribute tree space in a fashion similar to navigating city streets on Google Maps. As in real life, not all trees are equally desirable. Since no single user is capable of mapping out the best parts of the enormous tree space, this mapping of desirability is done collaboratively, leading to continuous refinement of the software."

6 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Doesn't run on Linux by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Windows and Mac only. From the FAQ:

    When will a Linux version be available?
    As soon as we finish compiling it. Given how many things we have to statically link, it may be a while.
    (emphasis mine). And then this gem

    On Windows and Linux, trees.dat can be found in the same directory as the Dryad executable.
    leads me to believe they're not real clear on how Linux works.
    Oh well - looks like fun, though.
    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    1. Re:Doesn't run on Linux by extremescholar · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Not to be a troll, but obviosuly you're using the wrong flavor of linux. Dependency hell was solved a long time ago. Repeat after me "apt-get install".

      --
      Using the Freedom of Speech while I still have it.
  2. Re:*This* is what's holding back virtual worlds? by IAmGarethAdams · · Score: 2, Insightful

    In the real world, trees know how to create themselves.

    Whether the lack of realistic trees in virtual worlds is a particularly bad "anchor" is probably more debatable

  3. Re:Computer scientists don't understand "infinity" by TapeCutter · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "If you want an infinite number of possible trees then create an implementation for a universal Turing machine."

    Such an implementation has already been created, we computer scientists call it "the computer". Now, no matter how powerful we make our "computer", no matter how (or if) we implement floating point it makes no difference to the number of possible trees a computer can generate.

    Not sure if the post was a troll or an attempt at humour - but the insighful mod makes me sad.

    --
    And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
  4. Re:*This* is what's holding back virtual worlds? by mike260 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    In the real world, trees know how to create themselves. I wasn't saying that virtual worlds don't need trees. I was saying that the creation of trees isn't democratic and easily accessible to all in the real world, so why is it imperative that it be so in the virtual world? Is it a reqiuirement of virtual worlds that they magically bring everyone to the same level of artistic talent?

    Frankly, who wants to live in a world generated entirely by a bunch of users dragging a bunch of sliders as far left as they'll go?
  5. Re:Sketchup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    3d modeling tool ... suffers from a lack of depth.

    Wouldn't that make it a 2D modeling tool?