Fabian Gärtner

In this peer-reviewed abstract, published at SIGGRAPH 2014 in Vancouver, we identify the three most significant obstacles to cross-compiling arbitrary real-time 3D applications into equivalent counterparts of their native versions. Furthermore, we present our work in progress approaches for addressing those obstacles in our own cross-platform engine FUSEE. A digital version can be obtained via the ACM Digital Library (ACM membership required) or on request.

In this peer-reviewed paper, published at Eurographics 2014 in Strasbourg, we describe the Furtwangen University Simulation and Entertainment Engine and its core functionality, as well as the benefits the project provides for education and research in real-time 3D software development compared to classes where other engines are used. A digital version can be obtained via the Eurographics Digital Library (EG membership required) or on request.

Compiling from a more traditional programming language into JavaScript to yield browser-capable applications has many advantages. In this paper, published at CSCI 2014 in Las Vegas, we describe these advantages and our approaches to compensate for any disadvantages in a cross-compiler scenario using C# as the source language and JavaScript as the target language. A digital version can be obtained via the IEEE Xplore Digital Library (IEEE membership required) or on request.

• CrossSL – Entwicklung eines Cross-Compilers zur Übersetzung der CIL in GLSL (German, bachelor's thesis)
• Verwendung der Oculus Rift zur Darstellung von 3D-Inhalten in FUSEE (German, research paper, unpublished)
• Furtwangen University Simulation and Entertainment Engine (German, published at VeGA 2013, Stuttgart)

BlinkenTiles is a highly versatile and interactive installation which allows for users to make music with their own body. This is achieved by using a sound matrix projected onto the ground. Users are then tracked via a Microsoft Kinect and a sound is played depending on their location on the matrix. Among other things, I was in charge of the multithreaded real-time image processing functionality. The corresponding software was developed in Unity3D, using OpenCV/EmguCV and C#.

CrossSL is a source-to-source compiler for translating shaders written in the Common Intermediate Language (or corresponding high-level languages such as C#) into the OpenGL Shading Language. This enables developers to focus on one programming language and allows them to use features such as syntax highlighting or error correction when writing shaders. CrossSL was developed during my bachelor's thesis (German) and is released on GitHub under the terms of the MIT license.

FUSEE is an open source project to develop a cross-platform real-time 3D engine intended to be used for visualization, research, and education projects. It allows for users to develop applications in C# which can then be translated to web applications using JS/HTML5. Among other things, I was in charge of the audio, network, and GUI implementations (C#/C++) as well as FUSEE's Linux and Mac version and the overall maintenance. More information and FUSEE are available on fusee3d.org.

• fuTools: Tools for FUSEE, including a tool to create default .js/.html files for FUSEE web applications (C#/JS)
• Oculus Rift as a Viewfinder: A tool which allows for using the Oculus Rift as a 3D viewfinder (Unity3D and C#)
• Work in progress: A C++/C#/Python SDK for integrating FUSEE into Blender and other modeling applications

Mr. Mic is a casual 2D game based on a prototype originally developed by students at Furtwangen University. It runs on a large-scale multi-touch table and is part of an interactive information panel for trade fairs. The players' goal is to control Micronas GmbH's mascot Mr. Mic to collect items by swiping their fingers over the surface of the touch table. My task was to completely rework this game and the information panel on behalf of Micronas GmbH using Unity3D and C#.

Eurocracy Golf is a protoype for a 3D minigolf game with European-themed courses. In contrast to similar games, this game allows the player to see and control exactly where their golf ball is going to go. The difficulty then lies in controlling the speed at which the player hits the ball. This prototype was developed in Unity3D using C#. To achieve this kind of gameplay, however, it was necessary to implement my own physics calculations instead of using Unity3D's physics engine.

Bug Defense 2D is a tower defense game developed using Adobe Flash and ActionScript. In this game, the player has to prevent waves of bugs from reaching their software target. This is done by building basic towers such as "Script Kiddie" or "Junior Developer" and special towers such as "Bug Tracker" or "Call Stack" with a limited amount of money. Each new wave requires more and more efficient towers to achieve the player's goal of surviving ten waves of ordinary and special bugs.

• Several more C# prototypes as part of the Global Game Jam and other game jams or as examples for FUSEE
• Console Tetris: a game library written in C++ which allows for playing Tetris in a Windows shell or via a GUI
• Heiliger Damm: a Delphi game in which users have to draw lines to prevent enemies from reaching a target

Haus der Familie is a municipal institution which looks after the concerns of families, children, and youths. My task was to create a website for the main institution, which bundles the links to all the websites of its subdivisions, as well as a website for the Familientreff subdivision in particular. While the main page is a simple, plain, and static XHTML/CSS3 page, the Familientreff subpage uses Drupal 7 as the content management system with a custom-made template.

In 2006, I began maintaining the website of Gymnasium Weingarten (an educational institution) by updating and extending its content. Three years later, the administration's desire to simplify the maintenance led to a complete rework of the website. This rework included the installation of Drupal 6 as the content management system as well as the development of custom-made modules to allow teachers and the secretary's office to update files and content with one click.

In 2008, the city of Weingarten held a holiday sweepstake. To be entered into the sweepstake citizens had to click on Christmas hats hidden around the city's website. I worked with the city's marketing division to organize this sweepstake. Furthermore, I had the responsibility to create and design a corresponding website using HTML, PHP, and MySQL. This website enabled users to register for this event and kept track of the amount of hats a user had found.

• This JavaScript-free portfolio and resume website with a custom-made design using HTML5 and CSS3 only
• Several websites on behalf of RokuMedia created using plain HTML/CSS or CMSs, and based on given layouts
• Two prototypes for PHP based browser games, one of which allowed users to virtually bet on sporting events

The Lab is a short horror film in which a young guy awakens in a laboratory full of dead scientists. He takes the lab's surveillance camera to document his search for signs of life but all he finds is an evil creature. This film uses an animated 3D character from Valve's video game Left 4 Dead 2 integrated in real-life footage. Among other things, my task was to record an actor's movement via a low-cost motion capturing tool and to animate and integrate the 3D model into several scenes.

Monopoli is a ten minute long animated storyboard for a film in which the young protagonist finds himself heir to a luxurious hotel. The protagonist must then race against time in order to be at a notary in Italy within 24 hours to accept the paperwork. Monopoli was hand-drawn in Adobe Illustrator using a graphics tablet within the course of a few weeks. It was then, together with a real-life footage scene, animated and edited in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Over the course of a year, I shot and edited a promotional film for Weingarten's local swimming club Schwimmsportverein Weingarten. This twelve minute long film shows the regular training sessions of the club's multiple swimming and waterball teams, their participation in sporting competitions, as well as the club's public events and classes such as water aerobics. Interviews with the club's chairman, coaches, and club members accompany the footage.

• Different short films as part of my studies, including a crime thriller film as well as a short David Lynch remake
• Several more award-winning cartoons and stop motion animations for the abgedreht film festival 2006 – 2008
• Other documentary and promotional films, including a wedding film and a commercial for a student company