Technology for Capturing 360 Degree Video

Inzite writes "EnterNetica R&D is working on a new spherical video technology for capturing and presenting full 360 degree scenes using a 180 degree lens, by adaptively predicting the camera's surroundings. Video extrapolation techniques have been proposed in the past, but this is the first time I've heard of an entire hemisphere of the video image being "guessed". The article also talks about feature film presentation using fully-immersive video in the future."

Comments

Why not two cameras?

[AKAImBatman]

Maybe I'm missing something, but the article doesn't explain why they don't simply place two cameras back to back, then use their software to splice the result and apply the correct perspective. All they say about it is that "it's against the laws of physics to take a 360 degree photo. That just seems odd.

Re:Why not two cameras?

[eMartin]

"This lens does not offer you the possibility to record a full 360 image... There is no data about what can be seen below and above the viewer. What they do is creating a spherical image, not just a doughnut (which is what your "funky lens" is capable of)."

The only requirement for "360 degrees" is that it see from a certain point in all directions on a single plane. Adding up and down means means adding another dimention to the process. Something that can cature a full spherical view would have to be called 360x180 degrees, where you capture 180 degrees of vertical for every one of the 360 degrees of horizontal.

Or something.

Why guess?

[sakusha]

The patent on Disney's Circlevision camera system has expired.

Not sure how you'd do it..

[nathan s]

...as a director.

I mean, part of the idea of a "film" is controlling the perspectives and what you present to your viewer. Somehow I have a hard time imagining this going past the art-house type movie, because the amount of work that the director has to do increases dramatically. Since you can't be sure what direction your audience is looking it, it would make it difficult to have a feature film in the sense that we're used to it...for example:

Jim: Wow, that guy just robbed a bank!
Sue: What guy? I was looking at those flowers over there.
[Camera whirls around, both get dizzy and throw up since they can't tell where to focus]

I'm being silly, but it just seems pretty difficult. That said, it's a cool technology, and if someone could tell me how they plan to deal with that whole focus issue in the context of a feature film, I'd be interested to hear it.

4 \pi Steradians

[benhocking]

For it to be truly immersive, shouldn't they be bragging about 4 \pi steradians instead of 360 degrees? One's a measure of a spherical surface area and the other only describes a circle!

Also, why doesn't π or π give me \pi? It seems to work in general HTML... Interestingly enough, & still works (and a handful of others).