Session 3: Production and Projection Techniques for Immersive Media
Dr. Foessel, Siegried – Chair, JPEG 2000 committee
What is immersive technology – it is certain behavior of computer and communication that approaches reality.
PRIME (PRoduction and projection technologies for Immersive mEdia) is a consortium of 8 partners. They are conducting R&D for workflows and key components of multidimensional immersive media. They analyze markets; do quality evaluation and acceptance testing; work on standardization; and address public relations.
Research areas include 3D cinema, 3D TVs, and panoramic 2d/3d projection.
PRIME has developed new mini-cameras for 3D/multiview capture. Also they have developed a stereoscopic analyzer (STAN) to assist, control, and correct stereo quality on the set. STAN does real time analysis of the data from the stereo pair cameras and captures technical metadata about the capture conditions (ex disparity range and convergence plane). The system has a viewfinder / controller screen with an intuitive GUI.
Their technology for 2D and 3D panoramic production includes a new rig; an omnidirectional camera system that holds up to 12 cameras pointing upward to a 360 degree reflective cone structure. It has been field-tested in soccer games, a 10 minute documentary, and a 5 minute fiction film. Two months ago they built a 180 degree theatre with 7 projectors. They are working towards having the 3D panorama projection system up and running by the end of 2010. This introduces 3D capture issues, like no common center point, that they are working to resolve. Also, they are working on higher frame rate and synchronization issues.
PRIME offers lectures on aspects of 3D to students and workers covering concepts like disparity, misalignment, 3D plots, distance and duration of scenes, jumps at cuts, etc.
Regarding the art of panoramic 3D cinema, multiple points of interest with no/some/full narrative connection will impact how to shoot and center the 3D. Is the screen a geometric continuation of reality and the real space, or a distinct space?
He showed a clip of 3D film – Perigrine