Songs in Silicon: Musical Journeys in Building Artificial Intelligence

Description

This is a book about bringing high-quality 3D animations to the Web. It is a much-needed book in a market that is shifting rapidly. The advent of broadband has increased the viability of using 3D to seduce, entertain and inform on the Web. This is a unique book that deals with making 3D artefacts, specifically designed for Web delivery. You will be shown how to make stunning interactive 3D animations that will elevate your website to cutting-edge status.The book is aimed at Web designers new to 3D, students, 3D modellers and animators and all Digital Artists. Whatever your current skill level, from beginner to advanced user, there will be something for you in this book. If you are a novice to the world of 3D then this book will teach you the basics and guide you through to an advanced level. If you are already knowledgeable in 3D then there are plenty of tips and tricks to further hone your skills and create complex and believable animations, games and environments.To those of you who have picked up this book and are new to 3D, you probably have one big question: ＆What＊s so special about 3D?＊My reply would be that 3D has immediate appeal far beyond that of a 2D graphic representation.To see how attractive 3D is, try this simple test. If you were visiting a website and wanted to search for a book. Which icon would you rather click on?My guess is the one on the right.2 3D for the Web Even though the actual information on the 3D object is smaller and less legible, it is somehow friendlier and more accessible. You are also able to see much more visual information about the shape of the object, by seeing more than one dimension.3D has an immediate appeal. It can reflect the world we know and live in.Clicking on the 3D icon feels more like browsing through a bookshop.Now let us think about 3D that moves. How about a button, which one do Do you want to push?I think you will agree that the 3D button is more likely to get hit. It is also likely to respond in a typical way. We would expect the middle part to depress and the collar to stay where it is. It also looks like it might produce a satisfying clunk when hit. The other button might do that too, but we have no expectation. How great is it to see the button move, have an idea of its texture and hear its re-assuring sound? 3D delivers the world as we know it, enabling us to understand what we see faster and more easily. So if you wanted to sell something on a website 3D is clearly a better way of showing the goods, but it is also the best way of entertaining and seducing a visitor to your site. This is why games have graduated to 3D. Why play Asteroids in 2D when you can add a whole new dimension? 2D is the silent black and white movie to 3D＊s Technicolor Surround sound.Okay, I hope I have convinced you, now let＊s get to the inevitable next question; how do I learn it? This book is going to give you all the knowledge you need. You will acquire the techniques and skills to produce high-quality 3D for the Web. But it is more than a manual; each chapter is divided into two parts. The first part is tutorial-based and is meant to be used alongside your computer. You will get step-by-step instructions on how to create everything from simple 3D buttons, to fully-fledged interactive character animations. The second part consists of interviews with award-winning, internationally acclaimed company.