"Be Here's 360-degree Internet Video -
Client and Delivery"
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Once you've created your 360 degree video you need to deliver it to the end user, the Web surfer. The solution is almost obvious. The way to deliver video to the Web surfer is via a streamed media play such as Real Networks Real Player or the Microsoft Media Player. Be Here has created a plug-in for these Real Networks and an ActiveX control for the Media Player. The Media Player version only functions with Internet Explorer.
After you install the plug-ins you're good to go. There are a half dozen of so examples on the Be Here site ranging from an ESPN show to the broadcast of the Hollywood premiere of "Anna and the King." The ability to virtually turn ones head with a live video stream is very compelling. I particularly like one demo of a band that is up close and give you a real sense of being right there with the musicians.
Just like typical streamed video configurations, the system can be set up for recording or live broadcast. A live broadcast with the ability to move ones virtual head opens up a host of live event possibilities, perfect for "behind-the-scenes" type of scenes. In addition each user can control thier own virtual camera completely independent of anyone else.
Two draw backs to the system are the issue of resolution and the usual problems of streamed video. In terms of video given that an entire 360 degree scene is being video taped, while only one quarter or less of the scene is being displayed on the clients screen the effective display resolution is correspondingly reduced. Be Here offers two versions of pre-packaged systems the Be Here iVideo Suite™ / Betacam™ SP, and the Be Here iVideo Suite / High Res. The recently announced Be Here TotalView Photo System has new aggresive pricing. The lowest supported data rate is 56K requiring more than your average modem performance. Lower data rates can be put up on a site with correspondingly lower quality video.
Be Here has raised the panoramic imaging bar freeing us from a static point of view. We can now virtually turn our heads as if our head was the live camera. I'm still waiting to be able to freely roam around an environment but I suspect that will only be a few years away.
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