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ETC Weekly 3D Round-Up – reader satisfaction survey results

Employees of ETC member companies who request it receive a weekly aggregation of 3D news stories.  This is an ETC “members only” benefit.

The results of our recent reader satisfaction survey are below.  We will incorporate the feedback into our future efforts.

Philip Lelyveld

Program Manager, Consumer 3D Experience Lab

———–

 

1) Are there specific topics that you would like more news about?

No – 60%

Yes – 30%

– autostereoscopic technologies

– physiological research on stereopsis,

– 3D audio

– 3D penetration in exhibition (domestic and int’l) by 3D system

– Production related topics that are “moving the needle” (I realize this may be out of scope)

 

2) Are there specific topics that you would like less news about?

No – 90%

Yes – 5%

(-no specific topics given)

 

3) What other resources do you turn to for news related to 3D?

Websites – 40%

Print media – 15%

Other – 35%

www.hollywoodinhidef.com

www.today3D.com

www.cinematography.com

www.broadcastingcable.com

www.ascmag.com (American Cinematographer)

www.cedailynews.com (CE Daily)

www.degonline.org (Digital Entertainment Group)

www.3dathome.org (3D@Home0

www.dcinematoday.com

www.futuresource-consulting.com

– LinkedIn groups

– Vendor discussions

– New York Times, Wall Street Journal

 

4) Is there another source that is as good or better at providing up-to-date developments in the 3D world as the ETC’s 3D team?

No – 75%

Yes – 10%

– Google and DEG…more concentrated…you guys do too good of a job of gathering ALL the articles

 

5) Are there related topics that you would like news about?

a) 3D audio – 35%

b) Immersive technology – 50%

c) Augmented reality – 35%

d) Other – 10%

 

6) The current format of the Weekly 3D Round-up is 1) a header with the story title and a phrase describing the 3-10 most interesting stories of the week, and 2) the title and first 75 words of all the week’s posted stories (with an image when available), with the 3-10 most interesting stories at the top.

a) I like the format the way it is – 75%

b) I would like it changed – 10%

c) No opinion, don’t know – 15%

– More smartphone-friendly, if possible

 

 

 

 

 

 

Google and Mozilla Are Leveraging WebM and More for 3D Online Video

 

by Sam Dean, Ostatic]

Is 3D the future of web video? A few months ago, when Google announced its WebM video format, based on technology it acquired from On2, with its VP8 video codec, many people interpreted the move as an effort to undercut entrenched video standards, such as H.264. Could 3D video have been the actual brass ring that Google had its eyes on, though? Both Mozilla and Google are making moves to support 3D video in browsers, and Google’s YouTube web video juggernaut is increasingly supporting 3D videos. This blog post from Mozilla illustrates the focus that it has on 3D and Google’s efforts to make YouTube a haven for 3D videos. You can also find a good discussion of WebM and 3D videohere.

Nvidia, Mozilla, Google and others are all working to standardize technology that allows for 3D video online, and open source WebM technology is a big part of the effort. YouTube has more than a thousand 3D video clips available, and there are glasses and other technologies designed to work with Mozilla’s and Google’s 3D technology.

Ars Technica notes that a big part of this trend is coming from the impending arrival of a wave of 3D video cameras:

 

“YouTube has had experimental stereoscopic 3D support since 2009, with support for a number of different output options including side-by-side playback and legacy anaglyph viewing. The arrival this year of consumer-oriented 3D video cameras could significantly increase the amount of 3D video content on the video site.”

One has to ask whether users really want 3D video online. After all, 3D televisions have attracted much drumbeating but little adoption in the market, and there are significant questions about how much 3D content is even available. Key features in HTML5, WebM and other technologies are allowing Google and Mozilla to pursue 3D video goals, but users will end up deciding whether 3D video is a novelty, or is headed for general acceptance.

See the original post here: http://ostatic.com/blog/google-and-mozilla-are-leveraging-webm-and-more-for-3d-online-video

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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