Software Stitches 5K Videos Into Huge Panoramic Video Walls, In Real Time

October 22, 2012 by Dave Haynes

You may recall a few months back a post about a Toronto company that has some crazy software that enables infinite zooming on a touchscreen. Content Interface has shown the software at a few trade shows and at the Preset DSE party, and I am surprised it has not found its way into more video wall installations.

The Toronto-based company has been sending me notes with updates on what they are doing, including word and video of equally crazy capabilities for stitching together ultra high resolution videos.

Founder Hao Le tells me:

As you know, I am working with stitching 5K videos into a panoramic movie and navigating it using our enVision technology. The resolution can exceed 60,000 pixels x 5,000 pixels for a 360-degree panoramic movie. So far I have made a dozen of 210-degree movies. That alone requires 48 1080p monitors. A simulated scene will be like this …

Le has sold a lot of systems in Asia-Pacific, including one in Sharp Japan’s new Tokyo offices (video at top of post).

There, you will find a video wall consisting of 27 60″ panels showing content and demos prepared by Content Interface Corporation (CIC). The content in this case are the 35K panoramic movies from Ultra Hi Vision Video Producer Dorian Weber. With resolution around 35,000 x 5,000 pixels, each panoramic movie is created by stitching 14 5K (5120×2700 pixel) ultra-high-definition videos – in realtime. 

The videos are shot using the Red Epic digital cinema camera, and can result in 360 degree panoramic video sets that have resolutions exceeding 60,000 x 5,000 pixels. The 5K videos are stitched together in realtime using Content Interface’s unique video player.

The company has developed software, as you can see in the video, for navigating the video walls and it is one of those rare times when I think Kinect would be a good way to do that.

Le says the applications range from tourism and culture promotion to video-based immersive displays. Smaller versions using 6 to 12 monitors can be placed in public places like airports and convention centers, as well as retail. I could also see this used in command and control systems like airport towers, shipping ports and metro police departments.

To see up close what it looks like, watch one of these and use the tool to zoom in: http://www.contentinterface.com/pano1

Not sure on the pricing, but I know the Infinite Zoom stuff was very reasonable.