Already world-renowned for its reports on the environment, The Weather Channel is now making waves in a different area – sports. The channel’s use of augmented reality in its coverage of complementary topics is blending the line between real and virtual, creating a more engaging experience for viewers.
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These displays come together using an Ncam optical tracking system in concert with the VizRT on-air graphics system. The Ncam camera-tracking allows any object to be placed within the scene at any angle, creating a photorealistic sensation. Even more incredibly, all of these shots are done live, with no extra editing happening in postproduction. In order to orchestrate it all in one shot, the talent must have a true understanding of where the augmented reality models are, just as they would in real life.
Despite the increased level of difficulty, on-screen personalities have seemed to embrace this new technology. Potts says that, “Most of our talent is just so excited…They get involved, there’s storytelling here that’s immersive for them.”
Not only have broadcasters enjoyed working with AR, but the audience has loved it too. In The Weather Channel conducted polls, augmented reality has consistently proven to increase levels of engagement and length of tune.
Although they are already ahead of most other networks, Potts hopes to continue innovating in the space. He believes the next step involves, “unlocking depth perception and real-time light and shadowing where the environment is effected by the lights in the studio…take off the harness if you will, so that the presentation itself it gets more and more and more lifelike.”
Source: SportTechie