There is a reason that my posts have not been frequent since the spring semester ended. I have been focusing on developing two on-line courses for fall 2008. One is totally in world and on ANGEL. See post titled: Register for College Level Intro to Virtual Fashion in SL [fall 08'] I would like to invite Fashion professors from other countries that would like to sponsor a fashion student for an independent study to participate in this class with me. If you are interested - please e-mail me at polvinem@buffalostate.edu. Learning to conceptualize, work and develop in a free 3D virtual application like Second Life will introduce fashion students for the transformative changes that are currently underway in the global fashion industry. If students gain a comfort level working in a virtual world, their learning curve for a multidimensional product development application will be substantially reduced.

I have also been “officially” retooling over to the multidimensional OptiTex technology; it is the next logical step to prepare future professionals for the 3D transformational changes that are currently taking place in the global fashion industry. I have a twenty year CAD/CAM technology background that includes retooling, developing course materials and teaching surface/textile design for industry, computer pattern making, marker making and more recently 3D fashion applications.

The 360 degree rotational images that are possible with this system can be used for marketing or pre-marketing. Perhaps even using the digital 3D imagary for a mass personalization retail marketing application like MVM’s BrandMe. Developing a fashion product in digital format from square one will save time, cut costs and facilitate marketing of the product on line in addition to collaborating directly with the manufacturer in 3D to eliminate costly development miscommunication errors.

I would like to integrate the OptiTex cutting-edge CAD/CAM Marker, PDS and Modulate programs in the curriculum. The reasons why I selected OptiTex to retool on are listed in my blog posting titled: Technology Day at FIT: Teaching and learning in Four Dimensions.

I have been working on it for the past three-four weeks now and it’s a totally amazing application! I am planning to develop some basic pattern development and modification tutorials, so I thought I would begin by sharing a bit of the stitching, simulation and 3D viewing for a basic sloper video [posted above] that I created following the instructions from Helen Joseph Armstrong’s Patternmaking for Fashion Design. The Optitex online support Wiki is both an exceptional learning and teaching tool, it will facilitate quick response retooling for educators and industry.

Oh by the way - the fabric pattern in the video above was from a portion of a Second Life screen shot during a visit last evening with Bettina Tizzy [and some close colleagues from FIT] at CHakryn Forest. Bettina founded the working group “Not Possible IRL,” : 1) To identify, showcase and promote content creation in virtual worlds that would not be possible in Real Life; 2) To seek and disseminate knowledge that empowers content creators; and 3) To advocate for better recognition and protection of the rights of content creators in virtual environments. Here are some FLICKER links to NPIRL [Not Possible In real Life]  : Situations Not Possible in Real Life (NPIRL) and Avatars Not Possible in Real Life (NPIRL).

Here is the one screenshot I took…

…and here one of the textures [that I used in the video above] that I developed from the image above in Photoshop.

Here are two more from the same inspiration…

As I stated during my presentation at Technology Day at FIT, RMIT and Ryerson, if fashion education does not initiate the type of quick response solution (that students are taught with regards to the real world) to the unprecedented transformational technology shift that is taking place over to 3D, they run the serious risk of becoming redundant and obsolete and could actually be the driving force for industry to develop private training institutes.”

The primary focus of this Virtual Fashion Technology blog is to document the transition and expansion from 2D traditional to 2D Digital to 3D virtual for apparel textile product design, development and retailing. Retooling on a multidimensional fashion product development application will be a major contribution.

[UPDATE: CLICK HERE  for tenative course content]

This Adobe Pattern Development for Industry class was developed after a specialized custom course development request I received from a well known global retailer several years ago. I developed and taught it to designers that had a variety of CAD backgrounds that needed to know how to use off-the-shelf CS to develop and prepare designs for industry.

This course prepares students and/or professionals techniques to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to develop, separate, clean and recolor graphics and pattern repeats [that are ready for production] for a variety of fashion products.

It is an excellent course for expansion of Adobe skills for a specialized production end use.

 
A basic knowledge of introductory functions of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are necessary to successfully complete this course. OpenCourseWare videos with audio  are available: Level One: Introduction to Adobe Photoshop Functions  and Level One: Introduction to Adobe Illustrator Functions

 
If you are interested in registering for this online college credit course FTT304 (1439) - please contact Buffalo State College Admissions. If you want to apply for college credit to be transfered out or do not want college credit - register as a non-matriculated student. Contact me if you have a problem registering.

Here is a LINK to some student work from several years ago.
 __________________________________________________________________________________
Course Code:  FTT304-1439
Offered by:  Buffalo / University College
Taught by:  Elaine Polvinen
Credits:  3

Course Description:
Creation of original motifs for printed fashion fabrics that are marketable for women’s, men’s, or children’s wear; professional methods of transforming media into digital format to separate, clean, develop basic repeats, and color combinations using Adobe Creative Suite based on awareness of current trends, color impact, marketability, and industry standards.

• Design and development of colors, prints, and fabric simulations.
• Re-coloring and designing of prints, plaids, stripes - a variety of patterns.
• Scanning and cleaning up prints to assist with executing a specific number of screens.
• Execution of flat and tonal color separations.
• Creation of a variety of repeats patterns in Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Creation of print and color chips for manufacturer spec packages.
• Creation of mini-boards for client presentations.

Prerequisites:
FTT 208 or instructor permission [student needs to have an introductory knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to successfully complete this course.] CS, CS2 or CS3 of Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop will work for this class. You can locate educational pricing HERE.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

I am also offering a College Level Intro to Virtual Fashion in Second Life [fall 08']

Shenlei Winkler (aka: Shenlei Flashart in SL] has an excellent post titled, “Avatar Apparel vs. the Real Apparel Industry,” clarifying the differences between what FRI [Fashion Research Institute]  terms, virtual fashion that is designed specifically for virtual worlds and gaming and the “1.7 trillion USD apparel industry.”

Actually it’s even becoming even more confusing then Shenlei mentions because the global apparel industry is now transitioning over to multi dimensional product development applications like Optitex [in the video below & see previous posts] that will empower the industry to develop in virtual 3D digital format [using virtual avatars] from square one.

So the term “virtual fashion” can refer to fashion developed specifically for end use in the the virtual world or fashion that is developed “virtually” via a multi dimensional application or “in the virtual world” for the real world global apparel industry. To add to the confusion :) I  have developed a totally in world Introduction to Virtual Fashion online college course that prepares real world students of fashion to think, create, develop and work together and communicate in a virtual world setting. Register for College Level Intro to Virtual Fashion in SL [fall 08'] I believe that an application like Second Life provides fashion education programs with the tools to teach students a specialized (fashion) conceptual skill set from working in a 3D virtual reality environment that is free and open access for all fashion programs. Gaining these introductory virtual skills will begin to prepare students for emerging employer expectations relating to 3D conceptualization.

Some real life fashion designers like Nyla from the House of Nyla design and create one of a kind real world fashions and replicate them for virtual sales in a virtual world like Second Life.

And then there are the real life fashion designers like KOZMARA that create real world fashions using a multi dimensional product development application like Optitex that enables virtual development of a real world garment that can be easily manufactured.

What Shenlei is developing with IBM is real world apparel production design and development in a virtual world setting - this is really quite exciting and it takes a bit just to wrap your brain around it but once you do it leads to endless possibilities!

Shenlei goes on to describe how virtual fashion for end use in a virtual world is often developed in a 3D application like Photoshop or Illustrator and is never actually manufactured so the designer does not have to conform to a variety of size, trend, quality, production and time constraints.

She continues with a comparison of funds generated by the gaming industries and the global apparel industries. In her post, she eloquently details the four years of dedicated highly focused multi-faceted cross training involved in preparation to become a fashion designer in today’s global fashion industry.

All of these real world production details that a fashion design student must gain an understanding of are not required for a virtual fashion designer that designs specifically for the virtual gaming worlds. As Shenlei states, “the realities of manufacturability and wearer’s comfort are not even a consideration.”

Her blog post explains that the FRI research is not about fashion designing for the virtual world but working “in” and using virtual worlds to develop real world apparel for manufacture. FRI is,”focused on helping the apparel industry to cut its time to market, slash its development costs, reduce its carbon footprint, and enhance its profitability and revenue opportunities.”  FRI is, “using virtual worlds to insulate designers from technology and to enable them to focus on design.”
 

The real world apparel industry product development research that FRI is conducting is exceptionally exciting and has the potential to have a transformational impact on the global apparel industry. Anyone involved in the real world apparel industry is welcome to visit the Fashion Research Institute [FRI] in SL.  The FRI has made available new resident avatar kits in the welcome area of the FRI corporate sim complex in Second Life tm Shengri La. Here is a link to Shenlei’s post titled “Beautiful People….”

Prim & Propers final sale is going on now and will be ending June 21st. The proceeds for the sale will go to Relay For Life. Here is a link to Shenlei’s post, titled, Prim & Proper Final Sale to Benefit Relay For Life.” I visited a few days ago and it was very busy with avatars looking for Shenlei’s exquisite fashions.

Shenlei’s blog has loads of images from a “great large-scale immersive 3D event in virtual worlds in the Fashion Research Institute’s Shengri La sims in Second Life. “The post is titled,” OpenSim Supporters from IBM and Microsoft Rave On in Shengri La.”

If you missed the Rave on Shengri La - don’t worry you still have a chance to participate in the Midsummer’s Day Ode Butterfly Hunts in Shengri La, Saturday June 21st. You will have to hunt down the butterfys to locate Random Calliope’s Ode jewelry set. This jewelry is famous and has many collectors. Not all the butterflys have the jewelry - if they do the butterfly catcher receives it so it may take the catching of several butterflys before you hit the Ode jewelry jackpot. The butterfly hunters will have five sims of paradise to hunt butterflys on. You right mouse click on the fluttering butterflys to try to catch them… good luck!

On June 21, Shenlei Winkler [aka Shenlei Flashart] from the Fashion Research Institute,  will be hosting an Ode hunt in the morning in honor of Midsummer’s Eve.

I will be accepting students for my first totally in-world Introduction to Virtual Fashion in Second Life class. Students can register for credit or non-credit. I have been teaching fashion in Second Life for three semesters now st Buffalo State College as a Web enhanced course. I am working over the summer to develop this special course so it can be taught totally online on ANGEL and inworld in Second Life.

This course will require very basic level one introductory Photoshop and Illustrator skills.

Here is a link to my OpenCourseWare Level One Photoshop functions

Here is a link to my OpenCourseWare Level One Illustrator functions

Course Name: FTT495: Intro to Virtual Fashion in Second Life

Semester: fall 2008
Credit Hours: 3  credits 
Catalog no.: 3347
Location of class Buffalo State Island in Second Life and ANGEL online course

Days: TR 7PM-10PM EST on BSC island in SL 
Instructor’s Name: Elaine Polvinen aka Finn1 FLintlock
e-mail: polvinem@buffalostate.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Learn the basics of the 3D world of Second Life. Learn how to navigate, communicate with others and create fashion related projects. Introductory multi-disciplinary skills for 3D virtual fashion design, brand development, presentation and fashion show production. Research projects focusing on incorporating 2D into 3D conceptualization in Second Life.

Prerequisites: Basic introductory skills with Photoshop and Illustrator. You are required to already have established an Avatar in Second Life and to have worked through orientation island. Second Life is a free application that must be downloaded and installed on your computer. Download Second Life HERE. Information about hardware requirements for Second Life can be located on the download page. Any version of Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop will work for this class.

OBJECTIVES:

At the completion of the Virtual Fashion CAD Project student will demonstrate introductory:

• 3D virtual organizational skills.
• 3D virtual creative Thinking skills
• 3D virtual visual Communication skills
• 3D virtual multi-tasking skills.
• 3D virtual creative Problem solving skills
• 3D virtual collaborative skills
• 3D virtual technology skills.
• 3D virtual presentation skills
• 3D virtual Market trend research skills
• Flexibility to link existing and learn new concepts.
• Skills for working and strategizing completion of various assignments in a multiple 3D virtual reality settings.
• Skills for 3D virtual fashion garment development.
• Skills for 3D virtual fashion garment presentation and product packaging.
• Development of a 3D virtual fashion collection.
• 3D virtual fashion show production videos
• Web 2.0 skills

If you are interested in registering for this online college credit course FTT495 (3347) - please contact Buffalo State College Admissions

Here is a link to student fashion collections and shows from a spring 2007 SL project.

________________________________________________________________________________

Here is a link to another online course offering this fall ‘08 Register for Online Adobe Pattern Development for Industry

In a past post [ Part 3: Avatars for Retail Marketing? It’s Not Only Coming – it’s Here!]  I have mentioned that My Virtual Model [MVM] has developed a Weight Loss Simulator that is very popular with users. Current The MVM Weight Loss Simulator is part of the Levi Strauss Weight Loss Simulator for Jeans; Prevention, Weight Loss Simulator of Swimwear; Ladies Home Journal & Fittness Magazine, Weight Loss Simulator for Women. All of these Weight Loss applications can be accessed via this MVM Weight Loss link.

Jessica’s Weight Loss Page is a true testament to the positive influence that the use of avatars for weight loss have. Jessica lost 140 pounds and promotes the free Weight Loss Simulator that is available in Prevention Magazine. Make sure you visit Jessica’s Weight Loss Page to check out her Virtual Weight Loss Model. Here is a link to another great Weight Loss Personal Avatar on One More Byte. This user lost 80 pounds and used the MVM Weight Loss Avatar to help inspire her to continue!
 

According to Gregory Saumier-Finch from My Virtual Model, “The most popular use for products are for those that are hard to try-on instore, most notably swimwear and jeans.” The Lands Ends Swimwear section is an outstanding example of the MVM personal try on model concept. Simply locate the swimwear style you like and click on the “Try it On” link that is located by each individual product item. What a great tool! Here is a link to a posting by Mary Hayes Weier, titled “My Second Life as a Swimsuit Model.” Here is a MVM jeans try on link from Glamour., you can also try on the jeans at Lands End.

 Avatars are positively used to inspire weight loss but exercise? Is it possible? Well check out today’s NY Times ” Fitness for Every Body - O.K., Avatar, Work With Me,” article by By Seth Schiesel [05/15/ 2008]. The article has multiple reviews about Wii Fit Nintendo’s latest product targeting the home fitness market. According to Schiesel,

“Nintendo’s latest brainchild, Wii Fit, could send similar ripples through the home-fitness market. Scheduled to be released in North America next week, Wii Fit is not meant to replace a gym. But in a world of $3,000 elliptical machines and $150-an-hour personal trainers, it has at least a chance of becoming a global, affordable, mass-market interactive home-fitness system. (On its overseas debut last month, it became one of the fastest-selling games ever in Britain.)”

When I saw the release of the original Wii I wondered how long it would take Nintendo to figure out that this would present an exercise/physical movement option that is fun and enjoyable to many. The author provided the Wii Fit to an assorted group of product reviewers [ Multitasker, Sweat Hound, Fitness Professional and Yoga Master] and provides their detailed feedback and conclusions about using the product.

In a nutshell the Multitasker really liked it and thought it was like an interactive exercise game. The Sweat Hound who s a regular at the gym was quite impressed with it for those that cannot or do not want to go to the gym regularly. The fitness Professional - really liked it and concluded it would e a good tool for those that cannot make it to the gym.The fitness professional agreed with my instant deduction that this would be an excellent tool for seniors. Here is a link to an article [05/15/2008] by Mike Snider from USA Today titled , Wii finds home in retirement communites, medical centers.” that focuses on the senior market. The Yoga Master was not exceptionally impressed because yoga is a mind/body activity and the Wii Fit focuses on body. The Couch Potato’s concluded it was like a game with a big variety of activities, it encourages you to do more but nothing replaces good old fashioned motivation. The bottom line was that the overall reviews were very positive about this new Wii Fit that incorporates avatars into home exercise. Here is a link to the video on NY Times.

“The system costs $90, plus $250 for the basic Wii console. It uses a television and a sensitive “balance board” placed on the floor to present a few dozen activities, from push-ups to yoga, to more entertaining challenges like balance games and aerobic contests. Nintendo is not aiming Wii Fit at people with a serious exercise regimen. Rather, it is meant to appeal to the person busy with work and family who just wants to have fun getting a little toned at home.”

Anything that inspires us to move more is WELCOME!

Who is the creator of this innovative product? Shigeru Miyamoto, the father of iconic Nintendo mascot Mario. You can read about him in USA Today in an article titled,” Designer Miyamoto makes video games pulse with life, by Mike Snider [05/15/2008].

Link to another article in Time by Anita Hamilton titled, “Weighing Wii Fit: Serious Fun,” 05/14/2008.

 Here is a video of the Wii Fit on Good Morning America.

This review video is pretty good the user works with the Wii Fit.

Another Wii Fit video showing some of the exercises with narration.

Note: The guest review for this show is presented by Samantha Seccombe. Samantha is a Fashion Technology Apparel Design major who also happens to be a GCC Fashion Alumni. She designed and created garments for one of the scenes [pictured below]. The image above is Dr. Emine Ercan, Apparel Design Professor from Buffalo State College, Samantha Seccombe and Professor Rick Dudkowski, Director of the Fashion Merchandising at Genesee Community College [GCC].

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________

So-Ooh Fabulous
By: Samantha Seccombe

 Last Saturday night [4/26/08] marked the 27th annual fashion show at Genesee Community College in Batavia, New York.  The show was entitled “So-Ooh” (some wordplay on the classic New York City destination, Soho).  The director of the fashion program, Mr. Richard Dudkowski, taught his second year fashion students how to put together an entire fashion show.  The students mixed their own music, found sponsors to donate or loan out clothes (or enlisted fashion designers such as myself), hand picked their own models, and coordinated their scenes.

 I had designed the clothing for the first scene [pictured to the right] entitled “Oh So Tempting”, coordinated by student, Samantha Gould.  Through attending her Wednesday night fashion show practices, I saw how Samantha taught her models to walk down the runway and set their pace to our music mix.  Backstage at the show, I saw firsthand how much work and planning goes into one day of entertainment.  There were practice shows to make sure that everyone was prepared, hair and makeup being applied every which way, and getting models dressed.  Models who were in multiple scenes rushed to change outfits.

There were two performances of the fashion show; one at three pm and another at seven pm.  There were ten or so scenes in the show, each coordinated by different students.  Several scenes were truly spectacular, with excellent music and gorgeous clothing.  All of the scenes were good, but some stood out as more creative and imaginative than others.  Some of the clothing was what you see people wearing in everyday life and some scenes had clothing with a couture feel.  All in all, I think that the show lived up to everyone’s expectations and that it was clear that some of the students have mass potential and will graduate to become true fashion mavericks.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________

 Notes from Finn1 FLintlock:  
Mr. Richard Dudkowski is the director of the Fashion Program at GCC. He has done an absolutely outstanding job with production of this show. It’s hard to believe these are second year students producing this show!

They did not miss a thing - multiple areas of the college participated in making this show an exceptional event!  Students were really into making this an event to remember - and they succeeded!

One of the many unique features in this years show at Genesee Community College was the So Ooh Gallery Girl Wearable art inspired dresses scene. Courtney Paige, from Albany, NY, designed all her own dresses. Five different, canvas-painted dresses were modeled that were truly works of creative art. I noted that it was unique because the program at GCC is for Fashion Merchandising not fashion design but this collection of handpainted dresses by Ms. Paige was exceptional!

A quote from Professor Dudkowski:

“It has been a pleasure for me to teach such talented students in the Fashion program at Genesee for the past 24 years.  My goal is to help direct and coach my advisees so they are prepared for the ever-changing and demanding careers in the fashion industry. By requiring students to produce a fashion show gives them the hands-on experience that enhances what they are studying in the classroom.  Other people have noticed how important this production has become since  I have recently been selected as a recipient of the New York State Chancellor’s award for Excellence in Scholarship & Creative Activities.  This award was given because of the consistent creative production of this annual fashion show.  With a total attendance of 1,155 people this year, it has grown to become Western New York’s largest fashion show! ”  mrdudkowski@genesee.edu

• Click HERE to Nate Oaksford Photo Gallery of the show.
• Click HERE to Buffalo.com/spotted to see gallery photos.
• Click HERE to images from the Manhattan Socialite scene.
• Click HERE to read an article about the show.

Technology Day at FIT: Teaching and learning in Four Dimensions

This brings us to the closing remarks: Virtual Identity and Visual Search was to be presented by Louise Guay, PhD., Founder and President of My Virtual Model [MVM].  I was extremely disappointed that Ms Guay was unable to make it to the Technology Day conference but she did manage to send a video of he presentation. I am including it here .

Louise mentions and illustrates how the Virtual Model and Virtual Home applications augment the users power to extend themselves. She mentions some of the ever expanding brands that MVM works with. She speaks about how the BrandMe application provides the user with access to mix and match (and save) multiple brands as well as post the virtual model to e-mail, blogs or a variety of social sites including FaceBook.

She is very excited about the new MVM Visual Search application and explains when and where it will be released. The video illustrates the data base visual search application that will enable the user to try on literally any product.

Link to my FLICKR images from the conference.

Technology Day at FIT: Teaching and learning in Four Dimensions

Panel Presentation: Preparing the Next Generation of Industry Executives for the next Generation of Marketing Tools: YouTube and More. Susan Reda, Executive Director of Stores Magazine, Kathy Savitt, Chief Marketing Officer, American Eagle Outfitters & David Polinchock, Founder and Chief Experience Officer, Brand Experience Lab.

Ms. Savitt began speaking about AEO – American Eagle Outfitters. Their mission is to be generous with their brand. She stated that, “Content is King, distribution is Queen and the Arch Duchess.”

77E is a dedicated unscripted content entertainment platform on A&E. MTV will run the show. It has unscripted content with social community building blocks via Stylehive, a new media application. Stylehive is a social community where users can share and bookmark trends. [note: another similar community is Stylefeeder]

No sharing between divisions was mentioned by David Polinchock as an example of a growth stifling issue within a company. [note: that is also true in an educational institution.] He went on to state that some of the rules are changing with new instant social community media. An example was described about a customer that had a very unpleasant experience trying on clothing at a well-known retailer – the experience was “twittered” from the dressing room and was immediately picked up and amplified by multiple blogs.

YouTube was mentioned as a new media and postings of the The Charmin Potty Party promotion. The Charmin Potty Party was group of custom designed Charmin Bathrooms set up in Times Square as a Christmas gift to New Yorkers in 2006.

An example of a brand that uses new media technology to their advantage is Zappas. They made use of Twitter  as a promotional community marketing and promotional tool by selecting someone from their Twitter community for a free pair of shoes.

The panel mentioned some  top leaders in the next generation marketing and why they stand out.

• Zappas Twitter channel – they are using new channels and helping people engage.
• E-Shirts – took an industry that never changed and to rethink how they do business.
• Nike ID on  Facebook– a consumer destination for designing personalizing and customizing NIKEID footwear, apparel and equipment.
• Webkinz – building a social marketing community

When something is launched online there is immediate attention. Relevance is now the criteria. Unscripted content like concerts, music, spring break is not vulnerable but scripted content is vulnerable because when you create scripted content you may get comments that you don’t want.

The panelists felt Second Life would evolve into a mixed reality. They mentioned some RL business ventures and why they “dabbled” in SL but then abandoned it after 12-18 months. Many business people walked away perhaps because they did not take the time to truly understand how to integrate the RL and the virtual world experiences. Businesses did not want to get involved if they did not want to deliver a unique and compelling experience.

One of the biggest problems with a brand trying new things is that they don’t understand the media. Unless they really make a commitment and find their voice they will be lost. The definition of success differs from brand to brand. If the focus is “only” on the product or “only” on the brand you could get in trouble with your message but if focus is “only” on the customer then stupid irrelevant material will not be developed if new media is your content.

The panel discussed “standards” on a site. They stated that standards can be limiting but some people go to a place specifically because they have standards. There is room a a lot of different options regarding standards.

How new marketing tools could impact marketing strategies was a topic of discussion. New media is an unbelievable opportunity to get customer data. [note: the new viral marketing tool that MVM has developed for retailers popped into my mind at this point]

New media:

• offers a way for companies to get smart.
• empowers companies to directly engage with their customer base.
• enables creation of a customer community that can be integrated into a company Website.
• provides branding authenticity.
• provides companies the opportunity to engage outside of the bricks and mortar.

Because of the new media tools – people are using brands to do more. And finally the most important statement for last  – companies that focus and serve customers will take on a level of honesty that is contagious.

Raymond Yee, Author of Pro Web 2.0 Mashups: Remixing Data and Web Services presented “Create Mashups to make the Web Your Own.”

Raymond gave an excellent demonstration of what is involved in building a customized mashup with the Pipes Web application. He also demonstrated the Picnik application that is integrated into FLICKR  to photo edit images on the Web.

 Raymond also spoke about the Open Source FLICKR viewer in Sl.  Here is a link to an article about it. This is a fantastic development! Up until now we had to upload each image that was needed to present a slide presentation in SL for $10L each upload. Now it will be possible to use our FLICKR images to project into SL.

 …to be continued.

Link to my FLICKR images from the conference.

Technology Day at FIT: Teaching and learning in Four Dimensions

 Round Table Discussions: Virtual World Community Gateway for the Apparel Industry presented by Shenlei Winkler, Director of the Fashion Research Institute [FRI]. 

Shenlei Winkler aka Shenlei Flashart in SL is the lead developer of building a Virtual World Community Gateway, an orientation space developed expressly for apparel industry personnel where they can learn to navigate and use virtual worlds safely and free of any hassles that may exist in the general SL community environment. Virtual world skills will become increasingly more important as new industrial solutions incorporating virtual worlds are developed for the apparel industry.

The Virtual World Community Gateway for the Apparel Industry is located in Second Life on a group of five sims (a utopian micronation in Second Life) owned by the Fashion Research Institute. Shengri La is one of the islands, here is the SURL location to visit the Fashion Research Institute in Second Life.

The Second Life Virtual World orientation space is currently open by invitation only to apparel industry personnel. The gateway is open 24/7, 365 days and trained helpers will be available on a limited basis. Individuals will be encouraged to learn at their own pace with tutorials so they can gain a virtual skill comfort level at their own speed. Shenlei’s contact info is Shenlei@fashionresearchinstitute.com.

It is not open to the general public. If you are a member of the apparel industry or fashion educator and are interested in introducing yourself and your faculty/staff contact Shenlei Winkler to gain access to the specialized virtual world orientation gateway she has created for the apparel industry and fashion educators.

According to Shenlei, this virtual world introductory experience will also include a  variety of customization options (provided by some of the top designers in SL) that will include everything a new user will need to develop their own style.

Industrial solutions incorporating virtual worlds are currently in development within the Black Dress Technology (Black Dress) subsidiary that FRI and IBM recently announced to develop an end-to-end enterprise solution for virtual-worlds-based product design for the [real world] fashion industry. This solution will serve small niche fashion product developer as well as mass market private label retailers.

Shenlei spoke about her past experience as a fashion product developer for a multi million dollar retailer. 2D designs are often misunderstood at the factory, presenting the designs in 3D virtual reality would eliminate multiple time wasting errors. A virtual reality product development application will allow real time development. The virtual world design solution that FRI & IBM are currently working on will result in a faster more robust and stable environment for apparel design. It is designed and set-up specifically for [real world] apparel and product designers. This will finally resolve the issue of accurate creative development time as time studies for creative work will be automatically calculated. FRI & IBM are also developing and testing the virtual world platform OpenSim, which is an enterprise alternative to Second Life(tm).

One last note about Shenlei Winkler - to locate multiple posts about Shenlei and the Fashion Research Institute please search within this blog for “Shenlei Winkler” or the “Fashion Research Institute.”

There were plenty of other Discussion Roundtables but alas I could not split myself into multiple personalities to participate in all of them. I would like to invite other roundtable leaders to comment to this post to summarize your discussion. Some of the other roundtable leaders were:

• [Blogging in Italian] Isabella Bertoletti
• [Conversations About Design] Leslie Blum [COM DES], Nancy Deihi [TEX/SUR DES], and Gordon Frey [INT DES]
•  [Education: Product and/or Process] Daria Dorosh from the New Media Institute, University of East London
• [A Second Life for the Classroom?] Larry Dugan, Finger Lakes Community COllege and Beth Ritter-Guth, Lehigh Carbon Community College
• [Virtual Astonomy for Hybred Courses in the  Physical Sciences] Joseph Liddicoat [Science & Math]
• [Online Teaching and Learning in Spanish] Madeline Millan [Foreign Languages]
•  [Science & Math] [Having Technical Discussions Online]Karen Pearson [Science & Math] Calvin Williamson
• [Web 2.0: Distributed Creativity and Framing Thought] G. Brett Phares from Marist College
• [The Information Dimension of the FIT Library] NJ Wolfe [Gladys Marcus Library FIT]

[note: if a college is not mentioned after the name, the person is an FIT faculty member]

Continued on …Technology Day at FIT – Part IV

Link to my FLICKR images from the conference.