Film-making, Digital Effects and Video Techniques

By now you've heard of, and/or seen 'Avatar' the digital, 3D sci-fi epic from Academy Award-winning 'Titanic' director, James Cameron. This film follows a war veteran named Jake Sully (actor Sam Worthington), who gets called to the depths of space to take up the job of his slain twin brother for the scientific arm of a mega-corporation looking to mine the planet of Pandora for a valued ore. ~ Synopsis, MSN Movies

It's a visually stunning film, created with a mix of live-action performances and computer-generated effects. One of my favorites, Adobe software, was used to make the movie 'Avatar'.

• Check out this video featuring Jon Landau, Producer of 'Avatar', and see how Adobe software was used throughout its production.
• Hear how these Adobe customers approached film-making, digital effects, pre-visualization, and a variety of video techniques using Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium for the movie.

Great Inventions: Computers, Communications & Consumer Technology

The following list links to History.com's 'Great Inventions' videos highlighting seven (7) outstanding inventions:

1. Thomas Edison on the Light Bulb
Thomas Edison talks about his invention of the first light bulb in early footage of this History.com's  video. Note: Edison didn't invent the first electric light bulb, but actually the first incandescent light bulb.
2. Presidential Assassination Leads to Early Air-conditioner
This Great American history video quiz clip, with Barbra Eden (probably best known as 'Jeannie' on I Dream of Jeannie), is about which of the assassinated presidents was the inspiration for air-conditioning.
3. Development of the Microwave Oven
In this Great American history video quiz, Marion Ross (probably best known as 'Marion Cunningham' on Happy Days), discusses how in 1946, scientist Percy L. Spencer was walking past a radar-powered tube when he noticed the chocolate candy bar in his pocket had melted, which led to the invention of the microwave oven.
4. The Process of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)
In this video clip learn about the show called, 'Lost Worlds'. In this show, people explore ancient ruins and try to get a sense of what they were like during the time of the empire.
5. CGI Ttechnology
In this 'Lost Worlds' clip, we go behind the scenes to see just how they make all of their amazing video animations of various lost worlds. They use CGI technology to make different kinds of images such as the x-ray image and the reveal image
6. George Washington in 3D
View inside these workshops to check out just how they make the models of the historic president, George Washington. You won't want to miss all the high-tech gadgets utilized to make this art piece.
7. First Computer Mouse
Watch this Great American history quiz, with Deborah Norville, on the first computer mouse. In what year did Douglas Engelbart patent the mouse?  ~ History.com

• This Day in History
• Widget: 'This Day in History'