News Stories

Sharp’s i3 Wall takes Immersive to a New Level

1.7.2011

The Sharp booth contains a very interesting display, the Information Intelligent Imaging Wall or i3 Wall (pronounced “i-triple wall”). Many are comparing the display of high-definition TV screens to the 3D holographic “Holodeck” from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Sharp has lined three walls, the floor, and the ceiling with sixty 60-inch LCD displays calibrating a series of videos that project an immersive environment. If you stand close, so the room fills your field of vision, it can be a spectacular, vertigo-inducing experience.

The sweetspot for viewing is at the midpoint of the bar that keeps people from walking into the space.

The theme park and entertainment possibilities with the i3 Wall are endless, but if you’re thinking about setting one up in your home get ready for a second mortgage. The i3 Wall starts in the half a million range.

Toshiba’s New 3D and Net TV Line-Up

1.7.2011

Although Toshiba is majoring on 3D (in passive, polarized and autostereoscopic form) it is also including Wi-Fi capability and its Net TV platform with most new sets.

For 3DTV the company is debuting the UL610 Cinema series, available in 46-, 55- and 65-inch models. These edge-lit LEDs all run on a 480Hz refresh rate and use a version of local dimming Toshiba calls “Fine Edge” that features more zones of dimming than other edge-lit models. The CEVO processor, a derivative of Toshiba’s Cell processor, allows for 2D-to-3D content conversion.

The UL610 TVs are Wi-Fi-ready smart TVs with Toshiba’s Net TV service plus Yahoo! Widgets.  The larger models are adding Skype video calling capability and will begin shipping in April.

A new TL515 3D TV line uses a passive polarized 3D system called “Natural 3D.” They will be priced below the UL610 line and include less expensive 3D glasses (sub $20). They’ll run on a 240Hz refresh rate and include the same smart TV Internet features as the UL610 TVs. The TL515 series, in sizes 32- to 65-inches, will begin shipping in March.

All the sets include USB ports to share content from thumb drives and portable hard discs.

Its SL415 LED set features built-in Wi-Fi and Net TV with Yahoo! Widgets, and will be available with a 720p resolution 32-inch diagonal display and a new 1080p resolution 24-inch diagonal display, starting in the first quarter of 2011.

The SL417 displays at 42-, 46- and 55-inch boasts a 1080p resolution CineSpeed LED panel and also features built-in Wi-Fi and Net TV with Yahoo! Widgets. They start shipping in February.

The company also has three new Blu-ray players, two of them will play 3D Blu-ray Discs (BDX4700 and BDX5200). Both will have a selection of online apps, and the BDX5200 will include built-in WiFi.

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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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