Future of graphics/tech

[jsmoke]

For those in the know, global illumination is the be and end all of 3D graphics, producing a generalised realistic light source instead of generating partial light areas such as fake shadows or caustics, reflections etc. Takes a lot of CPU power though and so wont be fully here until the next ten years or so, then we will have graphics similar to CG cartoon quality or just regular video camera quality.

I wonder where is next after that, surely tech has to come to a point where there is nothing left really to do, such as mobile phones, video quality real-time graphics etc.. What do you think will happen?

 

[.Jay.]

The possibilities just grow year on year, whether it's used in the general market in the next 10 years remains to be seen. Lots of things come and go, but I definitely agree there will be a huge market assuming the bigger players take it up rather than just being left on the sidelines.

 

[lsg1r]

I was under the impression global illumination has been used in gaming for quite a while now....real time ray tracing is the next evolution of graphics in 3d games/graphics to the best of my knowledge.

From what you're describing it sounds like you've muddled up the names because ray tracing generates 'computationally accurate' shadows/caustics etc. Real time raytracing is already being worked on by most gpu companies, theres been numerous demos too