1. CENTRAX PRESENTS:
‘The use of 3D and Video in eLearning’
Speakers: John Beckel, Brian Beverly - Centrax
Larry Wotman – Wotman Productions
CISPI Conference, August 19, 2009
Handout
A. 3-D ANIMATION
1. 3 Dimensional – HAVING A 3 DIMENSIONAL FORM OR APPEARANCE
GIVING THE ILLUSION OF DEPTH
a. CGI – Computer generated images
2. Centrax has used for 15 years
3. HD (high definition) is abundant
4. Great for eLearning
5. Examples
a. Government highway project
b. Machine assembly or disassembly
c. Medical – cell function
d. Functionality
e. Client wants 3D look
6. Character Animation
a. Customized characters for eLearning program to be used as
guides/teachers
b. Customized characters for eLearning scenarios
7. Entertainment Value
8. Virtual Sets
9. Ability to make changes to 3D is limitless

2. B. VIDEO AND GREEN SCREEN
1. Greenscreen use for video - also known as Chroma or Color Keying
a. TECHNIQUE FOR MIXING 2 IMAGES TOGETHER IN WHICH
1 COLOR (MOST COMMON IS BLUE OR GREEN) IS REMOVED
FROM ONE IMAGE WHICH THEN REVEALS ANOTHER IMAGE
BEHIND IT
b. Involves shooting the subject against a solid color background, then
later replacing that background color with an image or background
of your choosing.
2. What is needed to shoot on greenscreen?
a. Solid background
i. Such as a wall painted with special chroma key paint, or
special green fabric backdrop
b. Quality camera with good resolution
i. Will produce clean key effect
c. Specialized Lighting
i. Background must be lit evenly so no variation in green hues as
they appear to the camera
d. Subject framing
i. Subject must be kept framed against green
ii. This limits action on a small set but is ideal for interviews and
talking heads
3. Magic Happens
a. Post production is when the green is ‘pulled off’ and any 3-D
environment can be created behind the subject
b. Lighting is key to best effects being created for a background
c. The subject can be put virtually anywhere and it is infinitely
changeable
C. INTEGRATION OF THE TWO: 3-D and Video
1. What is the value of 3-D and Video in eLearning?
a. Learning retention is statistically higher
i. 20% from an audio-visual presentation vs.
ii. 10% from reading vs.
iii. 5% from listening to a lecture
b. Learner attention span
i. Elements of each process engage learners in ways a still picture
and only text, cannot
ii. Learner transports into rich media experience to keep
attention
c. ‘Practice by Doing’

3. i. Shoots retention rates to 75 – 80%
d. Younger generation having grown up with Xbox, Playstation,
Internet, and Second Life
e. Realism to actual environment
i. Learner relates well
ii. High knowledge transfer
2. Similarities
a. From the end use in a Flash application, they are more alike than
different
b. Surprisingly, both 3-D and video cost roughly the same
c. A video piece compressed and put into Flash takes about the same
bandwidth as a 3-D piece of same length and compression
3. Advantages of each
a. Video
i. Aesthetically familiar and we relate
ii. User has instant connection with what they are seeing
iii. Less expensive with faster turnaround
iv. Video characters, as instructors, give user familiar face to lead
through any subject matter
v. Can represent actual environment or product for training
vi. Cost effective
b. 3-D
i. Offers ability to create an environment that doesn’t exist in
reality
ii. Offers ability to take learner to places not able to go in reality
such as inside an engine or through the blood stream
iii. Characters have advantage of not being real so less likely to
offend
iv. Ability to make characters any ethnicity
v. Ability to change immediately
vi. Cost effective
4. Updating courses
a. 3-D – might take more time upfront to build but can be more easily
revised and more often
b. Video – has a faster turnaround – takes less time to create once
program elements have been chosen, but more effort to revise
5. Regarding 3-D and Video…What’s in store for the future?
a. Second Life as a training tool
i. Complete immersion of the learner in a 3-D environment
ii. Learners create and own an avatar giving a sense of
investment in the learning
iii. Possibly add video elements to enhance the avatar experience
iv. And we let our imaginations take us there…

4. Centrax Corporation
180 N. Stetson, 51st floor
Chicago, IL 60601
312 946-2025
www.centrax.com
Centrax Brochure
http://stg.centrax.com/demo/centrax_brochure.pdf
Centrax Second Life Development Services Site
http://www.centraxsecondlife.com
Centrax Second Life Development Services
http://stg.centrax.com/Second_life.pdf