3D technology centre taking shape

The University of Northampton says work is progressing well on an ￡11 million project designed to provide a technological boost for both students and businesses across the county.
The Grade II-listed Kingsley Park building is being completely refurbished and developed into a technology and research centre that will provide an extended home for the university's School of Applied Sciences.
The project is expected to be occupied and fully operational by April 2010.
In addition Kingsley Park will house the university's new `Nvision' centre, a state-of-the-art facility providing specialist services to help companies of all sizes develop and promote their products using the latest 3D modelling and visualisation capabilities.
"Nvision will include a suite of immersive virtual reality technologies, underpinned by technical resources and extensive expertise at the University," said Nvision manager, Stuart Wayne.
"It will offer significant and exciting benefits to a host of industries, including health, motorsport, games, architectural and environmental organisations to name just a few.
"We plan to have an immersive 3D technology demonstrator unit in place by the beginning of 2010, enabling us to run a series of showcase activities for prospective clients. At the heart of this project is the fact this is the first time in the UK that Small to Medium Size Enterprises will have access to this level of technology."
There will also be additional opportunities for external technologyfocused companies to base themselves within the building through a series of new business innovation units.
The venture is being further supported by a close strategic partnership with the British Institute of Non Destructive Testing (BINDT).
This Kingsley Park building development adds to the recent ￡3 million expansion of the Portfolio Innovation Centre, based at the university's Avenue Campus, which now offers space to house up to 46 of the region's most exciting creative, digital and design companies.