Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics (IGD)
Fraunhofer IGD (http://www.igd.fraunhofer.de) is the world‘s leading institute for applied research in the field of Visual Computing. Visual Computing stands for image- and model-based information technology. It includes computer graphics, computer vision, as well as virtual and augmented reality.
Fraunhofer IGD has been developing technologies and applications based on Visual Computing for more than 20 years. In cooperation with its partners, Fraunhofer IGD develops technical solutions, prototypes and complete solutions based on customer demands. The range of applications of the concepts, models, and practical solutions spans from virtual product development to medicine, commerce, and multimedia learning and training.
The research and development projects of Fraunhofer IGD are directly related to current requirements of market and economy. With its experience and expertise, Fraunhofer IGD provides technical solutions for innovative products and services and significantly contributes to strengthening the international competitive capacity of German and European economy. Numerous spin-offs ensure that prototypes are quickly brought to market. Together with its partner universities, Fraunhofer IGD also performs key technology research and cooperates with companies of various industrial sectors. Apart from its headquarters in Darmstadt, Fraunhofer IGD has locations in Rostock, Graz and Singapore.
Fraunhofer IGD people
Jens Keil studied Media System Design at University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt (Germany), which he graduated with a diploma degree. He also holds a master degree in Media Direction. Jens has worked as a freelancer for several agencies such as Scholz&Volkmer GmbH for customers like o2 Germany and Mercedes Benz. He joined Fraunhofer IGD in 2007, where his work involves human computer interaction and interface solutions for Multitouch and Augmented Reality technologies. Besides visual design his work covers Information Architectures, User Experience and Interface Design as well as Project Management. He developed several novel multitouch-based interaction techniques and crafted IGD's Multitouch Table prototype. His recent focus is Augmented and Mixed Reality in Cultural Heritage, where he was involved in projects such as Augmented Reality Sightseeing and dARsein - An Augmented Tour through architectural history and is doing research in and is defining guidelines for interaction paradigms for Mobile Augmented Reality.
Timo Engelke studied General Mechanical Engineering at Technical University Darmstadt. As a freelancer he has worked since 1993 in software and hardware development in the areas of industrial and medical appliance. Since 2003 he is part of the Fraunhofer family and in the first years he dedicated his research to pervasive gaming, tangible interfaces and mobile device development. In 2008 he changed to Fraunhofer IGD where he works full times doing large area display color calibration and computer vision research for EU funded projects, like the project SKILLS. Since 2009 he is lead developer of IGD's Augmented Reality framework for mobile devices that integrates both, a sophisticated computer vision tracking - that has evolved in more than 10 years of research - and a lightweight programming framework for AR applications based on HTML.
Formerly involved
Michael Zöllner is working at Fraunhofer IGD's Virtual and Augmented Reality department. He studied Communication Design at University if Applied Sciences Würzburg (Germany) and imedia Academy (Rhode Island School of Design, USA). He has worked as interface designer for several agencies like Pixelpark AG for customers like Adidas, Bertelsmann, Vitra and Smart before he joined Fraunhofer IGD in 2002. His main duties at the department “Virtual and Augmented Reality” are the development of interaction concepts, Interface and Information Design. He developed several novel interaction devices like Cercon Move (Degudent), MovableScreen and Fraunhofer IGD's Multi-Touch Table and Wall. From 2006 - 2009 he was Scientific Leader of the European funded project iTACITUS and developed novel interaction paradigms for Mobile Augmented Reality in Cultural Heritage. In 2009 he developed one of the first iPhone Augmented Reality applications “TwittARound” and developed the concepts of “Snapshot Augmented Reality” and “Reality Filtering / Remixed Reality”.