xTV

Surround is omnidirectional and panoramic video, which allows you to look in all directions similar to Quicktime VR or Google StreetView, except that it uses moving images.

The viewer can choose their point-of-view randomly, as if they were navigating through a 3D graphical environment, as with computer games: the viewer will experience the image from within, rather than being on the outside.

The power of the immersive effect

It is common knowledge that the immersive effect is already apparent, when viewing surround video on a relatively small computer screen, where the viewer navigates with a mouse or keyboard. It is expected a similar effect will occur when viewing surround video broadcast on television screens when the viewer navigates with the ‘set-top-box’ remote control.

The result is that the viewer feels as though they are exploring a broadcast environment, rather than just looking at material that is broadcast.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming sessions with television directors, event organizers and experts in immersive experiences, form the basis of the proposal for xTV.

These sessions have demonstrated that the new concept for iDTV, shows great adding value potential for the home viewer: allowing them to interact intuitively and spontaneously with the images that are broadcast, without forcing them to participate.

Real results

The sessions have also resulted in a list of explorative applications for television: sporting events, documentary, historical, fictional, cultural programs, including talk shows, debates and television games.

Parallel to real production, a number of creative partners such as Alfacam, Alice Events, CREW, DDMC and VRT are testing new concepts for explorative television. These tests will serve as important demonstrations for the project.

Capturing and processing live surround video (with adapted resolution and frame rate) for television, is possible using the unique surround video technology that has been developed over the last years by Androme, EDM and CREW.

‘Scene to screen’

Evolution in cable distribution and ‘set-top-box’ technology, bring this surround content to the viewer’s home, whilst also offering intuitive technological tools, to experience and interact with the content.

As a technological first, a ‘scene-to-screen’ pipeline will be developed by technology partners e.g. Alfacam, NeuroTV, Telenet and EDM. The pipeline will enable surround video based television production, post-production and distribution, providing complete home interaction.

Ten experiments

Technology has improved to such an extent, that it is now ready to be handed over to the creative spirits  to develop ten different production film production tests. Research of viewer experiences and responses, based on a broad sample and using a large number of applications,  will then allow our partners SMIT and MICT insight into the most important questions on viewer habits and engagement.

The consortium will thereby have a tangible view of the market introduction strategy and the adoption potential.

Second screen

As a result, whilst home viewers will be able to experience explorative television without buying new equipment (beside the set-top-box and TV they already own), the project will also provide new innovation and cost saving for conventional television production.

In the first phase of the project, partners will already be able to test the application of surround video in the margin of conventional TV broadcasts, through the online distribution of additional, explorable content on the internet and as a ‘second screen’ experience.

The first public demonstration of explorative TV, was shown on the VRT Sporza website, at the end of March 2011.

For more information, please contact Philippe Bekaert – project leader at IBBT-EDM-UHasselt.