10 NEWS & VIEWS
July 2018
Creating photo-realistic AR content
As augmented reality ( AR ) is becoming a trending topic and is increasingly used in many different shows , the process of how we create and develop such applications becomes more important . There are two different aspects to take into account ; one is the content that makes sense to be displayed as AR , the other is the quality and integration of such content in a given broadcast show .
AR allows for displaying datadriven graphics along with real images , where real footage or live videos are mixed with virtual backgrounds or scenes , chroma-keyed talents , and additional broadcast graphics or datadriven 3D graphics . During election nights , news , sports or entertainment programmes , data graphics can interact with the talents creating an attractive environment for the audience . This “ mixed reality ” allows for creating virtual environments , where visually engaging representations of the data can be better explained by the presenters , making complex data easier to understand while enhancing the storytelling .
When facing such projects , the perfect integration between the real and virtual objects with the backgrounds becomes essential . This is because what really makes the difference for the audience is to be unable to tell whether the images they are watching are real videos or digital renders . However , for virtual set production and live broadcast operation , photorealism is a tough challenge because of the constraints of real-time rendering and operation . So , what if we were able to create , in real time , photo-realistic scenes combining green screen shots of talents and AR graphics , and mix them all together so seamlessly that the audience could not tell which are real and which are not ?
Achieving such realism requires the combination of technology , innovation and talent . Thanks to its Combined Render Engine , InfinitySet can combine the Epic Games ’ Unreal Engine with Brainstorm ’ s own eStudio render engine , resulting in a perfect solution to create state-of-the-art hyper realistic scenes , which can also integrate other elements that are essential for broadcast operation , such as 3D data-driven motion graphics ,
Miguel Churruca , Director ,
Marketing and
Communications , Brainstorm
tickers , stats and many others , providing results which are indistinguishable to real footage , no matter if we are working in HD , 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) or even higher resolutions .
InfinitySet can also control the intensity and colour of the real lights and the chroma keyer settings as the conditions require . For example , if the talent is walking around the green screen and the light conditions change in the virtual set , InfinitySet can tell the real lights on the green studio to change accordingly , and also remotely alter the chroma key settings to maintain the best quality , even when using external hardware . So InfinitySet can simulate different conditions of the day , different lights and different ambiences in real time .
Another key feature is InfinitySet ’ s ability to cast virtual shadows over the real chroma-keyed shadows . These virtual shadows depend on the virtual scene illumination and can affect the virtual elements . On top of that , InfinitySet is also capable of creating accurate selective de-focus and bokeh , matching the depth of field of the lenses on a given scene .
With all the above , InfinitySet ’ s advanced virtual technology represents a real cost-saving solution , providing new possibilities for production houses and broadcasters for creating realistic scenes and environments , no matter if we are talking about sitcoms , news , sports or entertainment shows . Also , this approach avoids one of the common complaints broadcasters have when using virtual technology — that is , the quality of the virtual sets ; so it makes this technology a real alternative to remote live outdoor shooting or physical set construction .
For more information , visit www . brainstorm3d . com q
Case studies provide some real-world examples of IP deployment provided
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monitoring , precision timing , VXLAN ( virtual extensible LAN ) network virtualisation and EVPN ( Ethernet VPN ).
To enable automated provisioning workflow , NEP Australia deployed Arista Networks ’ EOS CloudVision , a turnkey solution for workload orchestration , workflow automation , and real-time visibility into network operations . CloudVision ’ s foundation is based on the EOS NetDB , which are infrastructure services for streaming , sharing and aggregating the working state of physical switches running EOS . It is designed to simplify the integration of orchestration systems , overlay controllers , and other network services by abstracting the underlying physical network .
Another user of Arista Networks ’ Cloud- Vision networking solution is Media Prima , an integrated media company based in Malaysia . Mohamad Rezwan Khalil Azmi , general manager , IT infrastructure and digital media platform , Media Prima , presented how Arista Networks ’ solutions were integrated into its broadcast infrastructure .
He said : “ We want to prepare ourselves for the next-generation of broadcast environment by upgrading to high efficiency , low latency and highly scalable architecture that delivers innovative network services . And with the equipment we have from different vendors , we wanted to streamline into one innovative network service so that the different sub-systems are in sync in one single network .
“ The project scope also includes upgrading our backbone for post production from 20Gbps to 160Gbps while empowering us to achieve the highest switching efficiency between every interconnected system within the broadcast network .”
The result , according to Rezwan , is the increase in efficiency and productivity , as well as network availability . He elaborated : “ The most valuable advantage Arista Networks ’ CloudVision has provided us is the visibility of quality of service and network performance . This has enabled us to reduce
operational issues with less downtime and faster throughput .”
Rezwan ’ s session was then followed by a presentation from Bogdan Frusina , founder of Dejero . In his presentation , entitled Reliable Connectivity Anywhere — The Importance of Remote Connectivity and the Workflows It Enables , he explained the company ’ s concept of blended connectivity . “ The concept of blended connectivity is about taking the multiple connections that are available wherever the user can get , aggregate them together to get one virtual connection that allows the user to manage that link across the broadcast facility .”
With an aim in addressing the dilemma that broadcasters face about which video transport assets to deploy for live coverage , Dejero has introduced CellSat , a solution that combines cellular and satellite connectivity . Using Dejero ’ s network blending technology to combine cellular connectivity from multiple mobile network carriers with Ku-band IP connectivity provided by Intelsat , the CellSat solution provides users the required bandwidth to go live from any location .
Last month , the CellSat solution was deployed for the live video coverage of the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to over three million TV and online viewers .
“ When planning for major events such as the Royal Wedding , securing reliable connectivity for their video-over-IP workflow is top of the mind for a broadcaster ’ s technical producer when surveying potential locations ,” Frusina explained . “ Broadcasters must have an extremely high degree of confidence that their live feeds will be transmitted without fail . The Dejero CellSat blended connectivity solution provided broadcasters with the confidence they needed to go live in Windsor , where large crowds were likely to cause cellular network congestion , and fibre was not readily available .”
The next presentation , Transition to IP with an IT Perspective , was by Denis Pare ,
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Bogdan Frusina , founder of Dejero , explained the company ’ s concept of blended connectivity , and the development of the CellSat solution , which combines cellular with satellite connectivity .