The University of Iowa Center for Computer-Aided Design (CCAD) Senior Project Manager 111 Engineering Research Facility, Iowa City, IA. 52242 Telephone: (319) 384-0573     Fax: (319) 384-0542     Email: beck@ccad.uiowa.edu

Steve Beck, Senior Project Manager

Steve Beck has over 15 years of computer graphics experience.  In 1989, the University of Iowa Image Analysis Facility (now Research Services) was looking for software tools to help researchers visualize three-dimensional data on Silicon Graphics workstations.  A company in Toronto (then, Alias Research Inc., now Alias|Wavefront) was developing 3d computer modeling software tools and was providing educational licenses to interested universities.  IAF applied for and received two licenses for Alias’s three-dimensional modeling software called Studio.  Steve was assigned the task of learning the software.  The lack of documentation on the use of the software meant that he had to develop his own methods of learning, not only the software, but also 3D computer modeling in general.  His methodologies were the basis for a 3D modeling research techniques course he taught in 1991.  As he continued to develop course materials and teach, the course gained popularity and turned into two courses – a beginning and an advanced course.  By the mid-90’s he was teaching a four course curriculum in 3D computer modeling at the University of Iowa and it should be noted that these courses did not exist in any form at the University of Iowa prior to his efforts.  Steve developed this entire curriculum from scratch in an emerging field and turned it into one of the more popular and sought-after courses on campus.  Funding issues made it impossible to continue the courses after spring semester 2001 but during the 10 years that they were listed in the University of Iowa course catalog, Steve had taught well over 200 students.

Because of Steve’s 3d modeling course development and teaching efforts at the University of Iowa he was contacted by Alias|Wavefront to teach their software to their industrial clients in 1996.  During this period Steve became certified by Alias|Wavefront to teach advanced 3D modeling concepts and techniques.  Professional engineers and designers who successfully completed these courses were able to receive industry-recognized certification in 3 levels of technical modeling competence.  Steve’s experience as an industrial trainer with Alias|Wavefront led to many additional opportunities to further his technical modeling expertise while working with clients including Henry Dreyfus, Mattel, Mercedes Benz, Black & Decker, Porter Cable, GM Truck, Tupperware, Honda R&D, and Microsoft.

During this same period Steve continued to act as a 3D computer modeling resource for researchers at the University of Iowa.  Selected examples include the following:  In 1995 Steve worked with University Professor Dr. Charles Grose to reconstruct the shape of a virus that could only be visualized as discrete slices using electron microscopy.  This work resulted in the publication of a paper in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Virology (1995; 214-329).  In 1998 Steve worked with Dr. Jose Assouline to develop a 3D animation of the life cycle of the HIV virus.  This animation was used in a Nova program titled, “Surviving AIDS”, originally broadcast on February 2^nd, 1999 and can still be seen on Nova’s Website at (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/aids/action.html).

In 1999 Steve took particular interest in a dramatic increase in the visual quality of real-time 3D computer games and started experimenting with 3d game technology as a means of low-cost, commodity-level immersive environments.  In 2000 he worked with University of Iowa Theatre Arts Prof. Alison Ford to recreate the University of Iowa Thayer Theatre using an off-the-shelf game engine as a proof of concept project that would help determine if low-cost game engines could help theatre production staff work on theatre-specific designs without physically having to be at the theatre space.  This project led to a similar project with University of Iowa American Studies Prof. Lauren Rabinovitz where Steve used inexpensive 3D game technology to recreate an interactive amusement park from the 1800’s.  In 2003 Steve presented these projects as well as other similar works in a research demonstration at the national Virtual Reality conference, IEEE VR2003.

His interest in real-time visualization technology continues and has led to his most recent challenge on the Virtual Soldier Research project under the direction of Karim Malek.