[geeks] O2 graphics compared to entry-levelOctanegraphics?

[Kurt Huhn]

Chris Byrne wrote:
> 
> I guarantee you there would be a VERY large market for it. Home centers,
> school woodshops etc... When I worked for a furniture refinisher and
> restorer this would have been VERY nice since we were working on furniture
> where a single screwed up cut could cost us tens of thousands of dollars.
> 

Since I typed that (all of 10 minutes ago) my brain has been going over
the idea and it really sounds quite feasable.  I'm starting to think
that I should start some work on it.  The learning curve will be tough
though, as I have no idea waht language I should use - OpenInventor
maybe?  I want to do it on an SGI first, then move to other platforms if
I can.

> We had to train people on nothing but doors and bookshelves for six months
> before they wrer even let touch anything more complex.

heh :)  My first project was a bookshelf that I made for my dad's
birthday - many, many years ago.  I recently stepped outside my own
comfort zone to create hardwood counters for the kitchen - they came out
fucking awsome (just bragging a little).

> 
> Software like that would definitely help that type of operation, and I'm
> willing to bet you find at least one in every good sized town in America.
> 

I'm sure I could - as well as a market for other woodworking
enthusiasts.  If done correctly, it could have a huge impact on folks
that don't feel comfy with tearing up pieces of wood just to see what
something looks like.  And it also would help apprentices learn basic
construction skills, saving the shop money on materials.

I think I'll start doing something like this.  Gotta do a little
research first and see how best to do it.

> And since you have some fairly limited parameters to work with i.e. known
> characteristics of avaliable materiels and a limited set of textures, plus
> I'd say you only need a limited set of lights as well, you wouldnt have
> nearly the volume of tasks to code for that a full design package would
> have.

That's the nice thing about commercialy (and retail) available wood -
everything has standard dimensions.  By and large, there are no oddball
sizes, and saw blades are standard width, and screws are standard, and
bolts, and, and ,and....  That makes it easy to create a database of
standard pieces, some of which can be shaped (like sheets of plywood and
lengths of board), and some of which are 'read-only' (like screws, bolts
nails, etc).  Take standard operations like ripping, mitering, drilling,
and make them machine independent - with the end result being a piece of
wood shaped as you want it (as long as you gave it the right
parameters).

hmmmmm.......

> 
> Of course the last time I actually coded anything larger than a reasonable
> complex script was in college so what do I know.
> 

Same here, but this just seems too cool, and I might regret *not* trying
to do it...
-- 
Kurt
kurt at k-huhn.com