|
learn
critical
computer
skills,
a
new
way
of
visual
thinking,
and
a
little
bit
of
what
professional
engineers
do
by
playing
with
Cosmic
blobs.
“It’s
much
like
the
design
engineering
process |
we
have
today,”
says
Scott
Harris,
Cosmic
Blobs’
creator
and
co-founder
of
a
Dassault
Systemes
company
called
SolidWorks
Corporation.
“First,
you
start
with
a
concept.
Then
you
articulate
that
concept
in
the
computer.
The
articulated
concept
becomes
a
model
which
is
presented
as
a
design,”
explains
Harris.
He
says
that
we
learn
this
same
process
with
the
Cosmic
Blobs
software. |
“There’s
a
lot
going
on
with
Cosmic
Blobs
that
kids
don’t
need
to
know
about:
a
new
language
of
shapes
and
some
truly
astonishing
mathematics
that
produce
ultra
sleek
surfaces,”
says
Harris.
“Until
now,
these
capabilities
were
only
available
to
engineers
using
very
expensive
and
specialized
software.
Cosmic
Blobs
makes
many
of
the
same
capabilities
available
at
the
consumer
level
in
a
product
that
is
fun,
approachable,
and
affordable.”
It
costs
less
than
$40.00.
The
unique
features
and
capabilities
of
the
software
provide
a
catalyst
for
creativity
in
all
types
of
scenarios,
according
to
Cosmic
Blobs
Product
Manager
Steve
DeBenedictis.
“The
flexibility
of
Blobs
to
allow
the
users
to
manifest
what’s
in
their
imaginations
quickly
and
easily
is
what
is
so
powerful
about
this
product,”
says
DeBenedictis.
“By
having
the
tools
to
put
thought
into
reality,
creativity
flows
more
readily
and
is
less
bounded
by
limits
in
place
from
existing
technology.”
The
software
is
available
to
download
from |
|
www.cosmicblobs.com.
The
web
site
offers
moderated
discussion
groups
on
the
fine
points
of
blobbing,
blob
creation
tips
and
examples,
and
galleries
enabling
children
to
display
their
own
blobs
and
admire
other
kids’
blobs.
Downloads
available
will
include
collectible
parts,
decals,
themes,
and
add-on
packs.
The
Cosmic
Blobs
team,
most
of
whom
are
parents,
will
closely
manage
the
site
to
supervise
all
activity
on
the
site,
including
discussions. |
Cosmic
blobs
has
been
tested
in
focus
groups
with
equal
success
among
boys
and
girls.
Cosmic
Blobs
is
the
result
of
giving
creative,
mathe-
matically
gifted
and
experienced
people
the
freedom
to
explore
unbounded
possibilities
with
3-Dcomputer
graphics.
The
Cosmic
Blobs
team
is
a
dedicated
group
of
programmers,
mathematicians,
artists,
and
visionaries
-
all
kids
at
heart
-
at
Dassault
Systems
a
company
that
develops
and
markets
software
for
mechanical
design,
analysis,
and
product
data
management.
For
more
infor-
mation
visit
www.cosmicblobs.com.
Also
visit
www.3ds.com
and
www.solidworks.com.
Minimum
requirements
include
a
Windows
PC
running
Windows
98
or
later,
a
Pentium
II
600
Mhz
processor
or
equivalent,
128
MB
RAM,
and
a
3D
graphics
video
card
with
4MB
RAM
or
more. |
|
Interested
in
more
Entertainment
Engineering
for
kids?
Send
us
an
e-mail:
brucewiebusch@adelphia.net. |
|
