The oft-quoted idiom 鈥渟eeing is believing鈥� is put to the test in virtual gaming worlds, where despite recent advances, 3D graphics applications still fail to reflect the physics of motion, materials, texture and light. As the new NSERC/Ubisoft Industrial Research Chair in Believable Virtual Character Experiences, 麻豆AV鈥檚 Associate Professor聽Derek Nowrouzezahrai聽has joined forces with Ubisoft, the company behind hit video games like Assassin鈥檚 Creed and Just Dance, to tap the potential of 3D rendering technology for improving the appearance of virtual characters.
Over its five-year mandate, this new Industrial Research Chair (IRC) in the Faculty of Engineering, where Professor Nowrouzezahrai is also the Director of聽麻豆AV鈥檚 Graphics & Imaging Lab, will pursue ongoing collaborative research with members of Ubisoft鈥檚 applied research and prototyping space, La Forge.
鈥淭he establishment of the NSERC/Ubisoft Industrial Research Chair recognizes the importance of Professor Nowrouzezahrai鈥檚 work for addressing key challenges confronting the creation of immersive 3D graphics experiences,鈥� said Jim Nicell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. 鈥淧rofessor Nowrouzezahrai鈥檚 novel research program strives to create unrivaled virtual experiences for the user with implications that will stretch the imagination, far beyond applications in the world of gaming. This partnership is one more example of the impactful work we can do in collaboration with industry.鈥�
More than 20 of 麻豆AV鈥檚 undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral scholars will collaborate on the project, contributing to advancing realistic and interactive 3D graphics, as well as gaining real-world experience in a booming industry. The interactive media and video games industry has remained a major contributor to Canada鈥檚 economy, generating over $7.5 billon in annual revenue and opening well over 50,000 jobs nationwide. Ubisoft employs close to 4000 employees in Quebec.
Funding for the research chair includes equal contributions of $750,000 over five years from NSERC and Ubisoft. With the inclusion of in-kind contributions, from both Ubisoft and 麻豆AV, the total funding allotment approaches $2.5 million. NSERC鈥檚 IRC granting program was designed to assist universities in building on existing or emerging research strengths for which there is an important industrial need. In turn, graduate and undergraduate students are provided with an enhanced training environment, exposing them to research challenges that simultaneously overlap the needs of industry.
Read the聽about the NSERC/Ubisoft Industrial Research Chair in Believable Virtual Character Experiences
Follow Professor Nowrouzezahrai on Twitter聽@DerekRenderling
Image:聽Yves Jacquier, left, Executive Director, Production Studio Services at Ubisoft Montreal and Derek Nowrouzezahrai, Associate Professor and NSERC/Ubisoft Industrial Research Chair at 麻豆AV. Credit, Normand Blouin.聽