The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released its annual list of achievements that will be considered for the next round of awards from its Scientific and Technical Awards Committee.
The Academy publishes the list in August every year so that observers have time to raise any objections based on assertions that the same technology had been developed earlier and/or done better. Claims of prior art or notification of the existence of similar devices should be submitted on the Academy's website. Additional entries may also be submitted through Tuesday, August 26.
The Academy's Scientific and Technical Awards Committee will meet in early December to finalize its recommendations to the Academy's Board of Governors, which makes the final decisions. The awards themselves will be presented on Saturday, February 7, 2015.
Here's the list released by the Academy:
Portable, remote-controlled telescoping camera columns
Prompted by MAT-TOWERCAM TWIN PEEK (MAT – Mad About Technology)
Drivable, high-speed vehicle platforms
Prompted by THE BISCUIT JR. (Allan Padelford Camera Cars)
Neutral density filters that remove infrared contamination
Prompted by INFRARED NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTER TECHNOLOGY (Tiffen Company)
Lightweight, prime lens sets for high-resolution cameras
Prompted by LEICA SUMMILUX-C PRIME LENS SERIES (CW Sonderoptic)
Optical audio transfer processes
Prompted by CHACE OPTICAL SOUND PROCESSOR (Deluxe)
Enabling technology of digital cinema projectors
Prompted by TEXAS INSTRUMENTS DLP CINEMA TECHNOLOGY (Texas Instruments)
Interactive blend shape modeling and manufacturing
Prompted by LAIKA RAPID PROTOTYPING AND FACIAL ANIMATION TECHNOLOGY (LAIKA, Inc.) and ILM SHAPE SCULPTING SYSTEM (ILM)
Measurement toolsets for quality control of cinematic experience
Prompted by LSS-100P (Ultra-Stereo Labs)
Displays providing suitable visual reference for feature film review
Prompted by SONY TRIMASTER EL ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODE PICTURE MONITORS (Sony Pictures Imageworks)
Collaborative, enhanceable image playback and review systems
Prompted by RV MEDIA PLAYER (Tweak Software)
High-resolution motion capture techniques for deforming objects
Prompted by MOVA (MOVA) and GEOMETRY TRACKER (ILM)
Systems for interactive grooming and direct-manipulation of digital hair
Prompted by BARBERSHOP (Weta Digital)
Systems for placing, grooming and resolving collisions of digital feathers
Prompted by DREAMWORKS FEATHER SYSTEM (DreamWorks Animation)
Systems for modeling, animation and rendering of digital vegetation
Prompted by SPEEDTREE (IDV)
Digital technologies for high-density physical destruction simulation
Prompted by DROP DESTRUCTION TOOLKIT (Digital Domain) and FINITE ELEMENT DESTRUCTION MODELING (UC Berkeley) and ODIN – UNIFIED HPC MULTI-PHYSICS SIMULATION PLATFORM (Weta Digital)
Efficient volumetric data formats
Prompted by FIELD 3D (Sony Pictures Imageworks) and VDB: HIGH-RESOLUTION SPARSE VOLUMES WITH DYNAMIC TOPOLOGY (DreamWorks Animation)
