SIGGRAPH

Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques or “SIGGRAPH” is one of the largest yearly conventions held to discus and show new advances in the computer graphics industry and it is without question the leading convention in its field. SIGGRAPH has been going on for over four decades. Huge advances are often brought to this convention and many of the advances that come out of this convention are in animation. Animators and other GCI artist bring things they have created and show them off. This is conference very important to the industry because not only does it show new technology but is can also help foster and create to ideas. This convention not only shows the new technology that has recently been created but it will also show things that can be created as many people present research papers at the convention and large discussion panels with industry experts are set up to discuss topics on the way things have changed recently or will change in the near future or even distant future. All the big companies such as Pixar and LucasFilm come to SIGGRAPH, they set up booths to compete for attention and try and bring in new recruits for their companies. SIGGRAPH has helped bring attention to many companies by showing the new innovations it has created, an example would be Pixar who back in 1984 showed their very first animated short The Adventures of André & Wally B and now Pixar is one of the leading forces in the animation industry, Pixar has since premiered almost all their animated shorts at this convention. SIGGRAPH has many events and activities set up each year such as keynote speakers, job fairs and art galleries all of which help improve the industry and bring the people with in it together.

Educating video games

While looking through the numerous TED Talks videos I came across the one called Ali Carr-Chellman: Gaming to re-engage boys in learning and decided to watch it. It is a very interesting and engaging video that makes many good points. I absolutely adore that she started her talk by specifically mentioning that not all boys and girls fit into the societal ideal of how a boy and girl “should act” though I really didn’t like how even after stating that she still kept the speech very gender role oriented, I don’t think it needed to be. Many of the problems she stated can still be problems for girls and even if the problem is statistically speaking higher with boys that does not mean the solution to the problem should be made only for boys, the solution to the problem can aid everyone if you let it. I don’t feel that the things she spoke of in speech should have been boys only, I think her problem is mostly with education in general like how children are not allowed to write what they want without risk of seeing the school psychologist. It’s ridiculous and again a problem this is not solely stiflingly boys learning, it can affect girls just as much. I was really interested in the video when she discussed the “100 girls project” which if looked at the right way can show the detrimental way that society is raising boys to be, by teaching them to be tough and strong and never show emotion. These teachings can lead boys to be mean and emotionally disturbed which is a problem in school (though this isn’t exactly how the speaker interpreted it, this is more my thoughts). I agreed with her thoughts on educational video games, I do agree that they need to be better, the way they are not is extremely dull and no one enjoys them. Educational childrens TV has come so far in the ways of story telling while still teaching. These tricks used in childrens television can be implemented in games and should be too! Childrens tv can be extremely interesting and ratings show that children enjoy it. These same philosophies can be used in games and it's a shame no one has done so yet.

(source)