The Power of 3D to Motivate

We have yet to see all the ways in which 3D technologies, including 3D visualization, design and printing will ultimately influence learning.  But, having taught at-risk students 3D design and printing for the past 5 years it is clear to me that 3D is a powerful motivating force in changing student's attitudes about their abilities and desire to learn.

While my past blogs have focused on 3D design and printing, this blog will add the powerful dimension of 3D visualization to teach and enhance observational skills.  In particular, we want to explore the application of 3D visualization to enhance motivation and sharpen the focus of students across all classroom subject areas.  Of course, it's understood that STEAM related classes can benefit by 3D.  But, we'll go beyond these areas to explore ways to use 3D technologies in history, language arts and other non-STEAM subject areas.

CORE GOAL:  ENHANCED OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS

Some people see and other SEE!  Some people hear and others HEAR!  While some of these differences might be genetic, every one of us can learn the skills that it takes to turn seeing into SEEING and hearing into HEARING.

When I taught science or drama to middle school students I knew that very few of them would become scientists or great actors.  But, I knew that all of them could learn to see more of life around them and, in doing so, would grow to love science and/or appreciate the skills of a great film director.  So, my primary focus was for them to learn the skill of observation.  And, it worked just as I had hoped.  The science students began paying attention to every detail of the simplest rock or leaf and the drama student's performances came alive with added nuances gleaned from closely observing  mannerisms we usually fail to see.

The path from seeing to SEEING is not easy or instant.  It's amazing how we resist real in depth observation.  But, if mentors are patient and persistent,  there comes a time when, like a light bulb, a switch is turn on and the value of the effort is fully realized.  As a teacher, watching this transformation is probably our greatest reward.

So, the first goal of this blog is to explore ways 3D can encourage and enhance student's learning experience in ALL subject areas. 

CORE GOAL: UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF AT-RISK STUDENTS 

Up to the present,  3D technologies being used in schools have mostly been focused on the high-achiever.  Printers are expensive, twitchy and slow.   And, it is thought that serious 3D design applications are difficult to learn for both educator and students.

But, from my work with The YouthQuest Foundation, I know for a fact that learning 3D design and printing has had enormous benefits in the lives of the at-risk young people participating in the programs we serve.  It is literally life changing.

I wish all at-risk students had access to 3D design applications and 3D printers.  But, for a variety of factors this goal will be a long time coming.  But, there are less expensive ways to use the power of 3D to teach life lessons to at-risk young people and we want to find and demonstrate them.

3D VISUALIZATION "POPS"!

Photographers sometimes use the term "Pops" to describe a particularly vivid photo.  Here is an example.

3D can do the very thing when it comes to DETAILS.  Nothing demonstrates this as well as Brian Valentine's (known as LordV) wonderful "cross-eye" photography.  Before we had VR glasses, we had "cross-eye" photography.  The photographer takes a picture and then moves slightly left or right to take another picture.  They then combine the images side-by-side.

To see the resulting 3D image, the viewer focuses on the image while crossing their eyes.  Some find easy and others cannot do it at all.  But, for those that are successful, the 3D image suddenly pops into place and the added detail is absolutely stunning.

Brian Valentine's Crossed Eye Photography

If you find this technique interesting, check out Brian's galleries for hundreds of images of flowers and insects taken in his garden.  He is a hero among macro photographers.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/albums

If you had trouble getting the 3D effect, this tutorial may help.   And, if you have a virtual reality headset that works with side-by-side images you can use those to view these 3D images.  While 3D still imaging is  powerful, it is just the tip of the 3D iceberg.  There is a lot more to come.

EXPLORATION USING THE CAPPASITY PLATFORM

To begin our 3D visualization adventure, we have chosen to use a platform called Cappasity.

http://www.cappasity.com

While the best known application for using the Cappasity platform is to present products for sale, we are convinced that this powerful tool has an important place in enhancing the educational experience of our at-risk students.

This platform provides the means to present 3D content.  It's purpose is to capture an object with a series of images that can be presented on two levels.  The first level is full 360 degree rotation 3D visualization under the control of the viewer.  Here is a page that presents some toys that can be rotated 360 degrees.  Double Click on an image to zoom in and out.

https://cappasity.com/toysrus/ 

A gallery of images is available here.

https://cappasity.com/gallery/

The second level is as a VR, or Virtual Reality, experience.

It's obvious that the Cappasity platform is highly scalable.  But, we'll start with the basics.  And, that means learning how to capture for 360 rotation and for 3D printing.  For this, we will be using two different programs developed by the Cappasity team.  Only one of these programs can exist on a single computer, so which one you chose will depend on whether or not you have a compatible RealSense Depth scanner.

Easy 3D Scan

Easy 3D Scan captures 3D visualization content using video.  If you have a compatible Canon SLR it will automatically drive the camera for the capture.  But, video from just about any source can be used.

Currently, Easy 3D Scan does not capture objects to be printed on a 3D printer.

Easy 3D Scan for Intel RealSense

We have been using Sense and Intel RealSense depth cameras for some time with our 3D design and printing students.

While this progran is no longer being developed into the future, it is still currently available as a free download and is THE best software for capturing 3D objects with a RealSense depth camera that we have tested.  We don't know how long this software will be available; but, while it is, we plan to make full use of it because it allows us to create 3D objects that can be printed as well as viewed.\

It earned its "Easy" name at the USA Science & Technology Festival where our at-risk students taught hundreds of children how to scan real objects into 3D images using the Sense2 Scanner and Cappasity!

Cadet Teaching Child 3D Scanning with Cappasity

To summarize, what makes the Cappasity platform unique is that a variety of input sources can be used to create 3D visualizations.  A series of still photographs or a video can be used to create 360-degree rotation visualizations.  But, Cappasity can also create objects than be printed on a 3D printer using a RealSense based 3D scanner.

I'm really looking forward to this great new adventure!