think3 Supports SATIN Multisensory Modeling Project Fund
 MILAN,
Italy, Oct 20, 2008 - think3, the only supplier to offer technology
solutions that combine product concept, engineering and tooling
environments, is member of the consortium implementing the project
SATIN. This project with a total cost of 5.1 million euro was funded with
2.9 million euro from the EU and started in 2006 under the coordination of
PoliMI (Politecnico di Milano) for 36 month duration.
SATIN stands for “Sound And Tangible Interfaces for Novel product
design”. Other members of the consortium are the Portuguese Institituto
de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores research institution, the
Technical University of Eindhoven, University of Nottingham and as
partners from the industry Alessi, Italdesign – Giugiaro, MOOG-FCS,
Steklarna Hrastnik.
The research develops a new multimodal and multisensory interface
system for product design integrating in an effective way novel modeling
paradigms based on the fusion of vision, haptic and sound interface,
through a “designer-centered” approach.
The SATIN system consists of a haptic interface, including two
FCS-HapticMaster devices connected and integrated with a new haptic
strip for shape evaluation and modification. The user can explore and
evaluate a surface shape along a trajectory interactively defined by
slipping her fingers on the haptic strip that takes the shape of the
curve on the virtual model. The shape can be modified by exerting
pressure on the haptic strip in single points, or by applying
traction/compression and flexion/torsion at the ends of the strip.
The visualization system is rear-projection based. The user wears
stereoscopic glasses for 3D models viewing; her viewpoint is driven by
an optical tracking system. The virtual shape is precisely superimposed
to and co-aligned with the haptic strip in order to mimic real life
situations. The system also provides metaphoric sounds related to
geometric characteristics of the explored shape (curvature,
discontinuities, etc.) and also provides feedback about the user’s
actions (i.e. forces applied during shape manipulation).
The first prototype of the SATIN system has been released in
September 2008 and consists of the haptic interface for shape
evaluation. The prototype has been tested by the project users: Alessi,
Italdesign – Giugiaro and Steklarna Hrastnik designers. The testers have
found the haptic strip intuitive to use and effective for representing
curves through the sense of touch in conjunction with stereo vision.
The idea of using symbolic sounds for conveying information about
some shape characteristics has proved to be successful and appreciated
by users who have found this communication means innovative and
pleasing. The next release of the SATIN system will also include the
possibility of modifying an object shape, locally or globally, just
acting on the haptic strip.
“We enjoy contributing to SATIN, especially with our geometric
components developed on purpose. We are convinced the way of working
prototyped by this project reflects what will happen in the coming
years” said Alain Massabo, Vice President of think3’s Advanced R&D
Group. Massabo has overseen think3’s involvement in many funded projects
such as FIORES-II and Touch and Design, which were the multi-year
foundational projects that have led to SATIN initiative being possible.
The project coordinator, Prof. Monica Bordegoni from the Politecnico
di Milano, said: “The SATIN project addresses the wide market of
industrial product design. The SATIN system exhibits a new generation of
design systems where the shape modeling functionalities and an advanced
human-machine interaction that includes haptic and tangible interfaces
fused with sound, are completely new and innovative in respect to
current available applications. It is expected that the SATIN system
will have a significant impact in the industrial design sectors and will
improve knowledge, productivity and quality of designers’ working
conditions. In addition, SATIN will also improve the quality of product
design by proposing advanced modeling methods that exploit designers’
skills, where shapes evaluation and modification is done by hand.”
think3 has a long track record in funded projects including Touch and
Design, EUD Net, FIORES II, GAIA and others.
For more information about Satin visit
http://www.satin-project.eu/
About think3, Inc
think3 has been operating in the ICT sector for more than 25 years
and provides the only technology that links three separate design areas:
the concept, its development and the finished product. In this way,
think3 enables thousands of company customers to innovate, to compete
and to rise to the challenges of global markets, thanks to the
integration of processes, which helps to accelerate time to market and
to reduce costs.
Having been active in emerging markets with dedicated structures for
many years, think3 can provide outsourcing services, thus offering
companies a new opportunity to go international. think3 boasts a
consolidated presence across Europe, the US and Asia.
The company has also secured a strong presence in China following
joint venture deal sealed with Beijing Extech Science & Technology Co.
Ltd to create EXTECH, a brand new company based in Beijing, with offices
across the country. In the rest of the world, think3 is present
throughout its network of selected VARs (Value Added Resellers). All
this means that think3 can count among its customers some of the most
significant enterprises in the industrial market.
For more information, visit
www.think3.com.
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