Immersive family movies just one possibility presented at NABSHOW 2024 in Las Vegas
AI and robots may be what some would expect to see from the Consumer Electronics Show or CES. However, that January event has passed. This month, the machines are taking over for a completely different conference, the annual NAB, or National Association of Broadcasters, Show. This event, which began as a place for broadcasters to find and share the newest tools of the trade, has morphed as the industry it serves has shifted. Yes, broadcasters are still served at NAB, but in 2024, content creators who find their audience on the web reign atop the hierarchy of those who find their brethren at the conference.
So why the android activity? It’s a mystery. Machine learning technology is all the buzz, with so-called “AI” being introduced into various technologies. “Robots” are visually appealing and still possess that wow factor, but what does it have to do with broadcast technology or content creation? An easy answer to that question was unavailable Monday at the NAB Show. However, while artificial people may catch the headlines, just under the surface, there is an undercurrent of newly accessible technology previously meant to change the scope of content creation and gearing up for an introduction to a wholly different audience: regular people.
Those who have placed a spatial computing or 3D VR device over their eyes know that the difference between everyday content on a television or phone and what you see via those headsets is vast. They can host intimate and immersive experiences not available on standard screens. Content creators have had access to lenses and cameras capable of creating these experiences for years, but a merging of audience and creator is now in effect. When speaking with officials from Canon, the imaging solutions company that has been at the forefront of camera gear for the better part of 90 years, it became clear that their 3D VR technology is ready for an introduction to a new user base.
Canon officials believe the company’s stereoscopic solutions are an excellent way of capturing family memories in a personal manner not previously available. Stereoscopic images, created by combining two photos or videos taken from slightly different angles, produce a feeling of depth: a 3D image. With 3D VR solutions like the Meta Quest headset and the Apple Vision Pro coming into mainstream parlance, Canon is reorienting its message regarding its 3D solutions from professionals to casual users.
Officials from the Japanese camera company made the point that with this technology becoming available, it’s not a stretch to imagine someone putting on a headset and being transported into a family video. A new take on the old VHS tapes everyone had that documented family events, later replaced (for better or for worse) with short, vertical clips that reside on our mobile devices, these immersive videos could provide a new dimension to the idea of a dusty old family movie. Instead of feeling like one is watching events from the past, the viewer can feel like they are there. It’s sort of a digital Pensieve for those familiar with the Harry Potter universe.
These immersive memories would be made possible with more obtainable tech, to be provided by Canon. Indeed, the company’s EOS VR system is already available and allows individuals to capture stereoscopic images in 8K (or eight times the resolution of high-definition images) with cameras for sale today. Not resting on its laurels, however, Canon showed off a prototype version of a handheld stereoscopic camera that would provide a lightweight solution to creating 3D VR videos. As of NAB, there were no official announcements about the cost or availability of this new camera; the promise is an affordable solution to capture family memories in a way that has never been available to a mainstream audience.
Not satisfied with simply creating VR tools for creators and consumers, the company also showed off technology that allows channels to create interactive, VR-friendly sports broadcasts using “volumetric video technology” that would be integrated into sports venues.
Although the future of these new developments remains unknown, with new use cases for available equipment and renewed interest thanks to the broadened use of VR and spatial tech, NAB 2024 offered a glimpse into new ways people might enjoy entertainment and make memories in the not-too-distant future — safely distanced from robots and machine learning.
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