SE3D Case Study
Building on a relationship that stretched back over six years, in 2004 Watershed and HP Labs set up the SE3D animation showcase, offering ten groups of UK animators free access to HP Labs’ experimental Maya® Rendering Service.
Based on HP Labs research into Utility grid computing, SE3D gave HP the opportunity to research how their digital animation rendering service would perform with multiple users under real-world conditions. Managed by Watershed, the animators were also given creative, technical and administrative support, with an advisory group opening up access to a network of industry mentors.
The first of the SE3D films were presented at the annual Animated Encounters film festival in April 2005, and subsequently at Cannes Film Festival as part of an HP promotion. They continue to screen at Festivals and events around the world.
SE3D offered:
Artists
• access to cutting-edge emerging technologies
• a community of advisors (creative and technical) and peers to share ideas and discuss problems with
• a community of potential collaborators for future projects
• competitive advantage via early access to tools which are likely to become mainstream
• retention of the intellectual property rights to their films (allowing their use in securing future commissions
• Promotion and exposure as part of a larger scheme
HP Labs
• a real-world test of their research
• an opportunity to explore potential uses for its technologies outside their original purpose
• better understanding of how people in the real world will use the products and technological solutions they are developing
• highly creative and professional films to use as promotional tools
Watershed
• new knowledge and capability in the digital and pervasive media sphere
• an opportunity to explore and refine new models of collaboration
• research around and legiticmacy for the role of broker/intermediary in collaborative/interdisciplinary R&D.
SE3D created a clustered community of researchers and artists, working together on an area of emerging technology through the lens of their own practice and interest. Whilst the project had specific outputs, an ethos of networked, open-ended investigation prevailed, creating a community that has continued to flourish and have influence well after the project has ended.
