At NAB 2011 Vinten Radamec®, a Vitec Group brand, highlighted its full capabilities by integrating its solutions in a Virtual Reality set up with three of the industry’s leading graphics providers. The set ups demonstrated the full scope of Vinten Radamec’s solutions as the broadcast industry moves further into the realms of virtual reality technology.

Vinten Radamec is predicting that 2011 will see a significant increase in demand for virtual reality systems. Karen Walker, commercial manager at Vinten Radamec said: “We’re already seeing several strong trends in the virtual reality sector this year. Virtual advertising and product placement will be big on the broadcast agenda as marketers take advantage of the change in Ofcom rules and look for more sophisticated ways to convey their messages to TV audiences.

“The diversification of robotics is another trend that looks set to continue, as broadcasters look outside the traditional news room environment and utilize robotics in other applications such as sporting events. There has also been a surge in the use of studio automation systems, as studios move towards more efficient production processes by using tools to produce programming with a minimal amount of crew.”

Another trend in the sector is the transformation of programme sets, Walker continued: “Since HD was introduced, the quality of sets has become a priority in a bid to maintain consistent high visual quality. Hard sets are being either combined with virtual elements, or replaced by virtual sets, in an increasing number of applications.”

The future of virtual reality technology was clearly demonstrated at the three Vinten Radamec sets at the NAB 2011 show floor. The dedicated VR sets show how Vinten Radamec’s solutions are designed for ease of integration with third party equipment, by displaying its products working live with software from leading graphics providers, Brainstorm, Orad and Vizrt.

Broadcasters visiting the stand could see how simple and easy it is to convert robotics to virtual. This was demonstrated through one of the set ups which incorporates the Fusion FP-188VR pedestal working with an FH-100VR head controlled by a Vinten Radamec HDVRC control system and partnered by a Brainstorm rendering system. The set up showed the cost effectiveness of using robotics combined with virtual sets as users will have the benefits of low head count and low costs in the studio.

Another of the Vinten Radamec systems on display showed the benefits of full 3D virtual reality tracking. The set featured the Vinten Quattro SE, a lightweight and compact manually operated pedestal with built in encoders, which provide precise real time digital electronic positioning over the floor and in elevation, combined with the Vinten Vector 950i pan and tilt head and connected to an Orad rendering system.

The third set up displayed the Vector 750i encoded pantographic head up on a platform simulating a typical sports OB situation working on a single rendering system provided by Vizrt. This demonstrated how easy it is to deploy virtual or augmented reality applications in a sports outside broadcast or any other kind of dynamic set up environment.

Walker continued:

“This year’s NAB 2011 event has provided us with the perfect global platform to show how Vinten Radamec’s robotic camera support systems and camera tracking range offer the best solutions for today’s virtual and augmented reality applications in studio and outside broadcast environments.”

The equipment used in the three NAB 2011 sets is part of Vinten Radamec’s extensive range of robotic heads, pedestals and control systems which are suitable for a variety of applications including studio, outside broadcast and legislative broadcasts. The control and location information from Vinten Radamec VR heads and pedestals is on an open interface and ready to work with any graphic solutions providers.

Vinten Radamec studio and legislative robotics solutions were shown at NAB 2011. A range of Vinten Radamec’s virtual reality products were also integrated with equipment in both the UNREEL and QVL stands.