think of those nifty Lytro tv camera that used light field applied science to create coolheaded , variable focus image ? It become out , the first - generation , kaleidoscope - shape Lytro shooter and the more traditional looking photographic camera - like Illum were just the beginning .
On Thursday , Lytro foretell it has jumped into the picture arena with Immerge , a video camera that use light field tech to capture and blend naturalistic , immersive live action video and computer computer graphic .
“ Immerge builds on the technological accomplishment that were unlock by Illum and affect the engineering science further into unrecorded action video and a 360 virtual space , ” Ariel Braunstein , chief product ship’s officer at Lytro , told Macworld .
This is a natural development for Lytro . Back last summer , the company released a massive update to Illum — a combination microcode and background ascent that put the camera as a content creator for practical reality headsets like the Oculus Rift , Sony PlayStation VR , Microsoft Hololens , and HTC Vive .
And now , with the help of a Lytro software package plug - in , Immerge output can be redact on your Mac .
Still a prototype
Immerge , presently still in the prototype stage , target the pro movie - make crowd . It will be released to originative storytellers in the first quarter of 2016 , the party said .
The chief point of entry for redaction is a cross - platform compositing and optical effects parcel from Foundry calledNukefor which Lytro has created a wad - in .
While AR and VR have typically been used to make three-D play environments , one breakthrough for Immerge is its capacity for realistic and immersive output for dramas and documentary . This would significantly broaden the mark view audience as well as creative possibilities for moviemakers .
Immerge is designed to catch once and play back on any gadget . While it ’s optimize for high - remainder headset , it also works with nomadic phones as the screen for a VR equipment , such as Google ’s Cardboard or other simple , low-toned - cost headsets that let in only optics .
Rectifying 2D issues
Immerge was created to combine live action capacity with computer graphics , but first it had to remove the 2D problem . “ A lot of the engineering available today are cobbled together from 2D and do n’t work well in a 3D environment , ” Braunstein said . “ 2D tech provides a compromise common sense of presence — mean you bed where you are . ”
For example , 2D figure of speech in VR must be sew together together , but when they are , the resulting seam and lines form a distract discontinuous space . A gifted video editor in chief can hide seam , but not carry off them .
Within a light subject volume , Immerge captivate data point appropriate for virtual view to be generated from any stage , face any direction , and with any field of view . This creates a much more naturalistic common sense of presence , antecedently experienced only with computer graphic .
In increase , Immerge places viewers in the action by replicating rude ignitor flow and right stereoscopic alignment to keep aspect consistent as users move their heads from side to side . The camera corrects blemished visual parallax , a phenomenon where moving objects at different distances appear to move at different amphetamine .
It give up for natural ( “ six degree of exemption ” ) brain movement in any guidance with the ability to view the existence in a natural way — side to side , up and down , and back and forth . Three extra ax of movement pivot man on top of those three .
Built as a system
Immerge is designed not only as a camera , but as a everlasting system , providing all the necessary hardware , software and service required to capture , process , edit , and bring back content .
The Immerge server store up to one hour of seizure , processes the light theater of operations datum , and integrates with connection and enterprise storehouse as well as VFX tools and even provides a portable render farm .
Lytro design to make the Immerge system available for purchase or economic rent by storytellers during the first quarter of 2016 , and to the general public after in the year .
Why this matters : forward motion in the picture land make Lytro an crucial part of create and combine live action and computer graphics for a novel form of immersive storytelling and VR - based presentations for mainstream audiences .
