A London Centre visit to BBC Research & Development at its Wood Lane base opposite Television Centre saw presentations on several of the key technologies that will be providing enhanced quality for viewers in the coming years.
The February visit was introduced by BBC R&D chief Andy Conroy and organised by principal engineer John Zubrzycki.
High Dynamic Range and its allied technologies are a key advance in improving the visual quality of TV, and BBC R&D recently had a new standard ratified by the International Telecommunication Union, based on collaborative work with NHK Research. Details can be found here.
The use of object-based media will be an important component in the move to an IP-based broadcasting system. Forecaster, an object-based prototype for weather forecasts developed by BBC R&D, delivers an optimum combination of visuals and audio to a variety of devices. There is more information here.
Binaural audio will come into its own when used in conjunction with 3D virtual reality – itself becoming a reality with the arrival of low-cost VR technology using smart phones as content provider.
BBC R&D has been working on The Turning Forest, a sound-based, real-time CGI VR fairytale, which will premiere in April at the Tribeca Film Festival. For more details, visit here.
Finally, check out the extensive innovations proposed on the BBC Taster and Connected Studio websites. Online channel BBC Three will be a test bed for some of this technology; see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/connectedstudio/about
BBC R&D’s website offers much more information on what the division is doing to advance broadcast technology – an important part of the BBC Charter remit.