Biography
Florian Berger studied Theoretical Physics at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz. He joined the Ars Electronica Futurelab in November 2001. At that time, his applied research focused on realtime computer graphics, simulation, signal processing, and embedded systems. He thereby worked on a wide range of projects, such as the pioneering immersive realtime VR system The CAVE, and a highly scalable, distributed version of this system for consumer PCs including a custom, software-driven approach for 3D-genlocking.
He is part of the core creative team of the Ars Electronica Futurelab, producing numerous internationally acclaimed media performances, and was thereby in charge of developing of a flexible, modular high-end graphics engine which was used for several big scale concert stereoscopic music visualizations. Examples are Wagner’s Rheingold or Mahlers Symphony #2, which were presented on multiple projection walls for a big opera house audience at Kölner Philharmonie, and on TV broadcast. His engine is also used for many other immersive VR simulations, for instance it currently serves for volume rendering of medical tomography data (MRT, CT), computational fluid dynamics, virtual architecture, or visualizations for virtual urban planning on the active stereo 4k projections of the the Ars Electronica Deep Space.
He currently holds the position of lead developer in the field of virtual reality and realtime computer graphics. His recent achievements include being chief SW engineer for the Spaxels-team. Florian has played an integral role in shaping the Ars Electronica Futurelab as a distinguished VR engineer and creative thinker. He teaches realtime computer graphics on the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, where he also acts as a theses supervisor for master degree students.
Additional Information
Publications:
Hörtner, H., Gardiner, M., Haring, R., Lindinger, C., and Berger, F., Spaxels, Pixels in Space — A Novel Mode of Spatial Display. In Proceedings of International Conference on Signal Processing and Multimedia Applications, SIGMAP 2012, SciTePress Digital Library.
Kuka, D., Lindinger, C., Hörtner, H., Berger, F., and Zachhuber, D. Applying Second Life’ to a CAVETM-like System for the Elaboration of Interaction Methods with Programmable Interfaces. International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques ACM SIGGRAPH 2007, San Diego, California, SESSION: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Article No. 157, New York: ACM
Berger, F., Hörtner, H., Lindinger, C., Maresch, P., Plösch, R., Pomberger, G., Praxmarer, R, and Ziegler, W. ARSBOX and Palmist — Technologies for Digital Mock-up Development in Immersive Virtual Environments. In Proceedings of IASTED International Conference on Internet and Multimedia Systems and Applications – EuroIMSA 2005 (February 21 — 23), Grindelwald, Schweiz: ACTA Press / IASTED, pp. 521-526
Berger, F., Elasitc long range interactions of carbon substitutionally dissolved in silicon, Diploma thesis, Institute for theoretical physics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria, 2001.
