[CAnet - news] High Definition Ultra-Videoconferencing over lightpaths

For more information on this item please visit the CANARIE CA*net 4 Optical
Internet program web site at http://www.canarie.ca/canet4/library/list.html
-------------------------------------------

[Thanks to John Roston for this news item - BSA]

As part of its Advanced Applications Program (AAP), Canarie has contributed
funding to a new $1 million (Canadian) research project entitled, "Shared
Spaces - High Definition Ultra-Videoconferencing." The lead contractor is
McGill University and the project builds upon its existing low latency
"Ultra-Videoconferencing" system which has been used to transmit
uncompressed standard definition SDI video and 12 channels of surround
sound.

The goal of the new project is to push videoconferencing beyond simply
viewing others at a remote location and instead create the feeling of
sharing the same space. The expected result is an experience of "being
there" that will enable corporate, educational, cultural and social
interaction well beyond what is now possible. 

The project will use a new panoramic display system consisting of three 65"
plasma screens to create a large "window" in the middle of a shared room
with one end at McGill in Montreal and the other end at the University of
British Columbia in Vancouver. The screens will display three simultaneous
high definition 720p60 uncompressed HD-SDI video streams in each direction.
The audio system will allow participants to carry on simultaneous
conversations. While the main meeting is going on, participants will be able
to move to the side and have a separate conversation with someone at the far
end just as they could if everyone were in the same room.

The total required bandwidth is estimated at 3.5 Gbps in each direction.  

The project participants are McGill University, University of British
Columbia, BCnet, RISQ, Communications Research Centre BADLAB, National
Research Council and National Arts Centre.

The funding is being provided by Canarie, CFI, Valorisations Recherche
Québec, Panasonic, Cisco and the project participants.

Further information: John Roston, Director, Instructional Multimedia
Services, McGill University, [email protected]



-------------------------------------
To SUBSCRIBE:
send a blank e-mail message to
[email protected]

To UNSUBSCRIBE:
send a blank email message to
[email protected]
-------------------------------------

These news items and comments are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect
those  of the CANARIE board or management.



-----------
[email protected]
www.canarie.ca/~bstarn
skype: pocketpro


_______________________________________________
news mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.canarie.ca/mailman/listinfo/news