Project R-3335

xTV: Explorative Television (Research)

The goal of this project is to develop new interactive digital television experiences and production techniques made possible by surround (omni-directional and panoramic) video. Surround video is video 'in which one can look around', similar to QuickTime VR or Google StreetView, but for moving imagery. A person viewing it has the freedom of choosing view direction at will, similar to the exploration of a synthetic 3D computer graphics environment, for instance in computer games. Because of this, a spectator experiences the imagery from 'inside' rather than as an 'outsider'. This is known to be so when viewing surround video even on a relatively small computer screen, and manipulating using mouse or keyboard. This will similarly be the case when viewing broadcasted surround video on a television set, and manipulating using the remote control of a set top box. The resulting spectator experience will be closer to 'exploring a broadcasted environment', than to 'watching broadcasted imagery'.

01 January 2011 - 31 December 2012