12th Jan 2021
CES 2021 - Sony's Next-Gen Content Creation
credit - BBC
Sony's slick CES presentation didn't unveil many new products.
But it delivered a fascinating look behind the scenes at two cutting-edge ways the firm is creating video content.
The first involved the use of a giant screen which is matched with movement-sensors on a camera to create a fake backdrop that shifts in turn with the lens.
A similar technique was pioneered by Industrial Light & Magic and used in the Star Wars spin-off series The Mandalorian, but this opens the door to other filmmakers.
The screens involved use Sony's Crystal LED technology, which the firm first unveiled at CES in 2012, but has been unable to bring low down enough in price to take mainstream.
In effect, this is its version of micro-LED tech, using millions of tiny light emitting diodes (LEDs) to match the number of pixels. The result is much greater brightness and contrast than a normal LCD or OLED display would be capable of.
The background footage moves in time with the camera to aid the illusion
Until now, the firm has marketed the tech at building owners wanting the ultimate video walls. But this has the potential to help film and advert-makers place actors within environments they can see, rather than relying on greenscreen effects.
The second innovation was the creation of an "immersive reality" performance, which uses body sensors to create a highly-detailed animated version of an artist.
Madison Beer recorded her performance in a motion-capture suit
It was demoed by the singer-songwriter Madison Beer.
Motion capture has been used for years to add special effects to characters in movies and to place real-world actors into video games.
But the aim here is to create a lifelike representation of a performer on stage at a concert.
The footage shown didn't quite escape the "uncanny valley" - there's still some way to go before we can't tell the difference between a real person and even a highly detailed avatar.
But it's easy to imagine that the tech being more impressive when viewed in virtual reality, where users can move about and choose their view.
The computer-generated image looks less real the closer you get to the performer
Until now, VR apps of concerts have either offered a pick of different static camera locations or involved much lower-resolution characters.
With Covid meaning it's impossible for artists to tour, this second-best experience could be very timely when it's offered to PlayStation VR headsets and other devices soon.
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