The line between the virtual and real world blurs even more, as the NFL tease new player-perspective technology that will feature at this year’s Super Bowl. FOX Sports will be introducing the new “Be the Player” feature to their replays at Super Bowl LI that will allow viewers to see the game from an approximation of a player’s view.

This incredible innovation was made possible via a collaboration with Intel.

“We tasked Intel to push their amazing Intel 360 Replay technology to the limit of what it could do, using their array of cameras circling the stadium to synthesize a player’s view on the field,” said Michael Davies, FOX Sports SVP of Field & Technical Operations.

Instead of attaching cameras to individual players, the system works by creating a virtual three dimensional space. It is able to do so by compositing the fields of view from multiple cameras rolling simultaneously. Though similar in concept to the matrix cam effect (which was experimented with at 2016’s Rio Olympics gymnastic events), this system is far more advanced. Davies explained how the creation of this space means that “. . . a ‘virtual camera’ can be placed at the player’s eye line -- not unlike how limitless camera views can be created in video games. ”

/FOX Sports /Intel

The entire event will use a monstrous amount of camera gear. FOX Sports claims that the production of Super Bowl LI will utilize more Super Motion and 4K cameras than they have in the event’s history. Furthermore, in order to produce over 20 hours of programming each day from the Discovery Green Location, three production trucks and more than 30 cameras will be used, in addition to the 70-plus cameras covering the game at the NRG Stadium.

“From the beginning, seeing and breaking down the play from the player’s point of view is the undiscovered country of sports broadcasting,” Davies added. “This broadcast enhancement is like no other -- it literally brings the audience down to the viewpoint of the player at the critical decision-making moment. What other choices did he have? Was his sight blocked? It all looks much different from field level, and can assist our announcers in describing what actually happened on the field. ”

The accelerated technological evolution in U. S sports coverage has been visible. In 2016 alone FOX Sports Labs experimented with capture from referee-worn GoPros at games, recording with drones at the U. S. Open Championship, and producing VR broadcasts of several high-profile sporting events, including the Daytona 500. Maintaining viewer numbers looks to be a race in itself to up viewer interactivity.

“We, as broadcasters, are always trying to provide the viewer with something they’ve never seen before,” said Zac Fields, FOX Sports SVP Graphic Technology and Innovation. “With this new ‘Be the Player’ technology, it is now achievable and we are incredibly excited to debut this at the Super Bowl on FOX. ”

2017-1-13 03:00