Forensic
Video can assist lawyers demonstrating a wide range of concepts, events,
and ideas using 2- dimensional and 3-dimensional animation. Forensic Video,
Inc., has over 15 years of experience in developing animations for the legal
profession. Providing animations for the legal profession is one of the
core essential services offered by our company.
Our animation capability
is state of the art and built on a range of industry standard platforms.
We use Silicon Graphics workstations that run the ALIAS/Wavefront and
Maya software. ALIAS/Wavefront is considered by top graphic industry professionals
as the highest-standard platform for development of models and animations.
Not all situations require the highest-end. We make extensive use of other
powerful tools, such as 3D Studio MAX, edit* and others. As a result of our
unwavering commitment to only use the best and most appropriate tool in
the development of our animations, we have never been excluded from admission
as demonstrative evidence.
Our ability to model and render objects using computer animation is bound
only by the information at hand. The ability to model and animate objects
is can be as realistic as the data that is available. The computer and
software are able to model any conceivable object. Using the power of
professional digital animation, we can convincingly communicate even the
most complex situations to juries and judges.
One of the best uses of animation is making the jury understand basic
science. If the jury needs to understand underground fluid dynamics in
pollution case, the so be it. We will make the jury understand underground
fluid dynamics. We want the jury to believe that we believe the smarter
they are about the case, the more likely they are to agree with us.
We are particularly
proficient in demonstrating:
- Human Motion -
perhaps the hardest model to illustrate is the human form. Human figures
are complex objects that can only be realistically depicted using high-end
software packages, such as those employed by Forensic Video. If required,
we can use motion capture to realistically simulate the body movement.
- Industrial Processes
- Fire and Explosions
- Explosions that burn as real as fires in your fireplace can be effective
tools when used before a jury (accompanied by expert witness testimony.)
- Manufacturing Traffic
Accidents
- Construction & Demolition
- Photogrammetry
- the reconstruction of a two dimensional picture into a three dimensional
object. (Used extensively in Parker-Hannifen v. Safeway.
Our animations were
among the earliest used as computer generated destructive evidence in
trial. We were the first to introduce animation in Minnesota and Wisconsin
as evidence. In the 15 years we have been producing animation for lawyers,
we have never been excluded because of problems relating to admissibility.
Check this area soon for additional information and legal research relating
to the admissibility of animation at trial. WHY SHOULD I
USE ANIMATION?
The simple answer is - animation works! High-quality animations are highly
persuasive in the minds of jurors. When an animation is submitted to the
jury, the impact the visual depiction of events is the strongest possible.
The jury is taken from the contextual frame of being "a third party"
to the events depicted to the contextual frame of being an "eyewitness."
The power of this contextual shift cannot be underestimated. Specifically, animations
are extremely useful in the following circumstances:
- Animations can
help increase the communicative effectiveness of a technical expert.
Testimony that is mathematically or scientifically intensive can often
by digested more easily when illustrated.
- Animations are
useful in demonstrating the activity or interactivity of objects that
cannot be seen or easily imagined (for example, patent designs, molecular
activity, activity inside a pipe.)
- Animations
are useful in demonstrating chains of events that precede the
event at issue.
(The "straw that broke the camel's back theories of a case.)
- Animations are
useful in depicting interactions that occur very quickly. (Examples
are, car crashes, explosions, and fire.)
- Animations
are useful when significant "predicate knowledge" is
required to understand the issues of the case before the bar.
(For example, if
your case involves a patent dispute regarding the interactivity
between filtration systems, it may be useful to explain to the
jury how a filter
works in general
No matter how complex,
there is nothing we cannot teach a jury. If the jury needs to understand
underground fluid dynamics, then so be it; FVI will teach them. No matter how obscure,
FVI will help the jury understand meaning of an experts testimony. We want the jury to
believe that we believe the more they know about the case the more likely
they will agree with us.
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