CREW_Lab: Weblog

Bolscan: a new display method for immersive environments.

autofasurer — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:15:27 +0000

Crew developed the installation ‘Bolscan’, an alternative display method for immersive, omnidirectional video content. As the name suggests, the installation allows the viewer to ‘scan’ the omnidirectional video at his or her own discretion. The video, shot with an omnidirectional camera, is represented on a virtual sphere (‘bol’ means sphere in Dutch). By turning the entire installation the viewer can explore the 360º video one slice at a time.

This novel way of viewing 360º content urges the viewer to actively partake in the discovery and exploration of the video yet allowing him/her to focus on a segment of the environment.

Bolscan has been presented during ‘Festival Canal‘ (17 Sept. till 3 Oct 2010) at the Kaaitheater in Brussels and ‘Almost Cinema’ (12 till 23 Oct 2010) in art center Vooruit in Ghent.

Bolscan at Kaaitheatre in Brussels

Annual Review 2020 3D Media in Barcelona

autofasurer — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:52:57 +0000

Crew presented the results of their research in “Cinematography in Omnidirectional Video” at the annual review meeting of the European project 2020 3D Media. (18/05/2010 – 21/05/2010)

Direct translation of classical cinematographic parameters into immersive media proves to be problematic. We explore traditional editing principles and analyse how they create continuity within both the cinematographic image and the immersive environment. In this report we highlight which of these strategies are compatible with immersive experiences and which, on the contrary, do not correspond. Surround sound, framing, composition and tactile congruence are proposed as alternative formal conditions of continuity and immersion. The combination of all these parameters is applied and explored in the artistic production Line Up.

The report can be found on the website of www.20203DMedia.eu, under ‘Resources’, or directly as pdf here

“How we hung 6000€ worth of equipment from an improvised deathride.”

autofasurer — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:57:22 +0000

Ever wanted to go on a deathride only find out you have a bad case of vertigo?
In this experiment we wanted to research the effect of ‘flying’ in omnidirectional video.
We improvised using the tools we had and installed a wire between a scaffold and a drainpipe which would hold the mobile recording backpack.
By simulating the feeling of being pulled up, sliding down, wind and bumping into someone down below we were able to create a very convincing immersive experience.
One of the most remarkable effects is the relation between the distance in the image and the physical distance you’re traveling: moving the swing ~20 cm easily convinces you to have moved the 10 meters in the video.

ODV Post processing experiment #1: Masking

autofasurer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:41:10 +0000

In order to increase the active involvement of an immersant in omnidirectional video a simple experimental setup was created using mask overlays.
The use of these masks heightens the experience of personal choice, the freedom where to look within in the 360º image. At the same time it encourages the immersant to explore the full 360 degrees. It can be compared with the use of binoculars or a flashlight. The limited view negates peripheral vision, the visual information which falls outside of the centre of the gaze is obscured which results in an urge to scan the environment more actively.

CREW_lab in Bologna for 2020 3D Media meeting

nelewynants — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:43:44 +0000

September 21-22, 2009. Bologna, IT

Eric Joris, Hilde Teuchis and Philippe Bekaert are attending the quarterly 2020 3D Media meeting.

www.20203DMedia.eu

Editing in ODV – some experiments

nelewynants — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:54:16 +0000

Line-up preparations :

For the moment CREW_lab is conducting some experiments on the use of sound and montage in immersive video (omni-directional video). More precisely, we are investigating the possibility of an unbroken visual montage (without disrupting the immersive experience) by using sound and tactile suggestions to bridge the gaps on a visual level.

Multiviewer research – EDM Hasselt

nelewynants — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:49:47 +0000

June, 15-19 & 22-26, 2009

Line-up : multiviewer research

At EDM/UHasselt premises a configuration was developed in which a group of people (10-20) can be immersed. The moving participants/viewers are networked and share an immersive experience they are walking through. The tests focussed on:

- Development & implementation for Embedding Surround audio into the Janus Omnidirectional Viewer, and this as a first step towards future implementation of the Media Pro Surround Post Production system into the Janus.

- Development & implementation of Multiple Janus Viewer: 5 people have full individual omindirectional viewing possibilities of the same videostream.

- Development & implementation of Multiple Janus Viewer Tracking System of the same videostream

- Further development of an Editing tool for the Janus to link Janus Viewer with commercial post production software (Final Cut pro, after effects…)

Experiments with editing tool for ODV

nelewynants — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:47:04 +0000

April 27, 28, 29, 2009

Brecht Debackere, Vincent Jacobs and Eric Joris conducted some preliminary tests with the new editing software for omni-directional footage, designed by Philippe Bekaert and Tom Cuypers from EDM/Hasselt.

A conversion tool enables the import of other non-omnidirectional data (JPG, Quicktime, 2D-handycam,..) and furthermore enables the export of all data to post production-software (File Cut Pro, After effects,..). CREW_lab conducted tests putting these editing tools in practice:

In a first phase this software was tested in order to experiment with different ways of transitions: montage tests were executed varying from dissolves from a different duration, cuts from interior to exterior, reverse shots and loops. First observations learn that (a different kind of) montage can be used to steer the narrative in ODV, but in order to keep the immersive flow of the ODV-imagery, the continuation needs to be confirmed by the use of sound, shapes, light or colour, or tactile stimuli, that instead of cutting the experience, offers a coherent flow of audio-visual impulses.

Victorian Circus – Brakke Grond (NL)

nelewynants — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:42:36 +0000

VICTORIAN CIRCUS V
VIERDAAGSE ROND NIEUWE MEDIA
DO 19.03 T/M ZO 22.03.09

Gast in focus: CREW/ERIC JORIS

CREW_lab gave a lecture and organised a round-table discussion with Chiel Kattenbelt, Eric Joris, Kurt Vanhoutte and Nele Wynants, devoted to one of the core concepts of CREW: immersion.

www.brakkegrond.nl/VictorianCircusV.htm

Can the network do without me?

nelewynants — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:28:40 +0000

A CREW_Lab installation of Eric Joris, Kurt Vanhoutte, Jim Bollansée, Brecht Debackere, Nele Wynants, Tom Cuypers, Rosanne van Klaveren and the students of Media & Design Academie Genk

13, 14, 18, 20 & 21/02/2009 – 19:30>23:00
15/02/2009 – 16:00>20:00 – KAAISTUDIO’S, Brussel

More information : www.kaaitheater.be

In deze experimentele set-up wordt de QR-code (Quick Response Code) ingezet als bemiddelaar tussen een fysieke en een virtuele netwerkomgeving. Middels een gsm-applicatie wordt de code gecapteerd en omgezet naar een beeld, een tekstboodschap of webpagina. Aldus koppelt het de gebruiker door naar een wereld die zich achter de code bevindt, de parallelle wereld van het netwerk. De bezoeker van de installatie leent in ruil voor diens identiteitskaart een mobiele telefoon met camera die hem in staat stelt de code te ontcijferen. De QR-code biedt aldus een gefragmenteerde toegang tot het beeld achter de code. Het vormen kijkgaten naar een evenwijdig moment in tijd en ruimte.

In deze eerste fase van Can the network do without me? onderzoekt CREW_lab de relatieve verhouding tussen een materiële en een virtuele werkelijkheid/identiteit. Sociale netwerksites zoals Facebook, Hyves of LinkedIn organiseren op een virtueel niveau het sociaal verkeer van een gemeenschap. Deze internetomgevingen blijken plaatsen van ontmoeting en uitwisseling, waar sociale omgangsvormen zich lijken te dematerialiseren. Maar wanneer krijgt een virtuele ontmoeting een reëel karakter? En hoe virtueel zijn onze contacten in een tastbare wereld?

In samenwerking met Rosanne van Klaveren en de studenten van Media & Design Academie Genk zal in deze eerste fase de set-up van deze theatrale omgeving verkend en opgezet worden. De studenten onderzoeken hoe ze middels een aangemaakte avatar een interactief facebookverhaal kunnen opzetten. Aan de basis ligt hier de vraag naar de mogelijkheidsvoorwaarden tot het organiseren van zo’n sociale ruimte. In hoeverre is het mogelijk een sociale netwerkruimte op een theatrale wijze te organiseren?

Elke kubus is de gecodeerde materialisatie van een lid van een facebookcommunity. De QR-code trekt de bezoeker als het ware een sociale ruimte binnen. De metafoor van de community verbeeldt het wezenskenmerk van het netwerk: de wil tot verbinding met een gemeenschap, de behoefte ergens deel van uit te maken. Als een omgeving met eigen regels en wetmatigheden staat de orde relatief los van de wereld erbuiten. Het is een wereld die inclusief en exclusief is tegelijkertijd, een virtuele gemeenschap die tegelijk hyperreëel is. Me of de aangemaakte avatar bestaat slechts in relatie tot het netwerk. But can the network do without me?

_lab @ Presence Research Padua

nelewynants — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:21:16 +0000

October 16-18 2008

Kurt Vanhoutte and Nele Wynants presented a paper on “The 11th Annual International Workshop on Presence” in Padova Italy, organized by the International Society for Presence Research.

The paper “Being Inside the image. Heightening the sense of presence in a video-captured environment: the case of CREW.” is published in the proceedings of the conference and can be found here: http://ispr.info/

Spacecowboys – Workshop hybrid spaces

Kurt Vanhoutte — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:18:30 +0000

Workshop hybrid spaces

How art creates, networks & visualises hybrid spaces

06 + 07 May 2008

Kurt Vanhoutte and Nele Wynants participated in the workshop on Hybrid Spaces, in Z33, Hasselt Belgium, and wrote a contribution for the Spacecowboys-publication.

More information: http://spacecowboys.z33.be