The real power of the ETC is the frequent interaction between the content owners and the technology and service providers. The goal is to look for real solutions to deliver entertainment in new ways to consumers in the future. The ETC membership allows the organization to discuss and pursue ways to encourage other groups and standards bodies to move in the best directions for consumers. To this end, the ETC engages in a variety of projects that advance the distribution of digital media. Below are two examples of current projects at the ETC.
Consumer 3D Experience Project
The Consumer 3D Experience project was started in response to the industry need to build consensus around emerging technologies that allow distribution of 3D content to consumers on a variety of devices and in a variety of situations. 3D content presents many new challenges to the industry both in terms of how the content is created and how it is delivered. The purpose of the project is to collect data that can be passed on to standards bodies. The ETC has established a Consumer 3D Experience Lab where the industry can share resources to create a comprehensive demo facility of available technologies.
3D Project Working Groups
For every ETC project, working groups are formed to accomplish work defined by the Technical Advisory Board. These working groups report their results on a monthly basis to the TAB.
3D StEM Working Group
This project was started in response to industry recognition that the market for 3D in the home, on personal devices, and in public spaces will have difficulty growing until we understand what factors define and bound a pleasant, long-duration 3D viewing and interacting experience. The ETC is bringing together subject-matter experts from movie-making, television, videogames, visual perception, display metrology, and related artistic and scientific disciplines to first quantify those factors, and then to develop Standard Test and Evaluation Material (STEM). The STEM will push the boundaries of those factors, so that content creators can see the ramifications of going to those extremes, and product developers can see how well their products operate at those extremes.
3D Scaling Working Group – Convergence from 40ft to 4ft screen
This group seeks to answer if there is an objectionable difference in the perceived depth and nature of the objects in the image that has been mastered on one screen size and viewed on another screen size.
Interoperable Media File Project
The goal of the Interoperable Media File (IMF) project is to develop a voluntary specification for an interoperable set of master files (and associated metadata) to enable standard interchange and automated creation of downstream distribution packages. We hope to create a voluntary specification that will be handed to SMPTE in late 2009 to kick off a formal standards-setting process.
Expected outcomes of the IMF project:
* Single, interchangeable master file format
* Automated packaging & delivery
* Minimize storage
* Simplify post production transcodes
The IMF will store one master set of file-based elements to be assembled for any downstream distribution using multiple Composition Play Lists (Recipes), similar to what is used in present day Digital Cinema Packaging (DCP). The broad concept of a high quality, uniform DVP should lower costs, improve time-to-market, and increase interoperability of existing production processes and needs. Of course, a DVP file-based workflow could be implemented and customized by any content creator, service provider, or distribution partner.