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Sports TV Applications of Computer Vision

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Visual Analysis of Humans
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Abstract

This chapter focusses on applications of Computer Vision that help the sports broadcaster illustrate, analyse and explain sporting events, by the generation of images and graphics that can be incorporated in the broadcast, providing visual support to the commentators and pundits. After a discussion of simple graphics overlay on static images, systems are described that rely on calibrated cameras to insert graphics or to overlay content from other images. Approaches are then discussed that use computer vision to provide more advanced effects, for tasks such as segmenting people from the background, and inferring the 3D position of people and balls. As camera calibration is a key component for all but the simplest applications, an approach to real-time calibration of broadcast cameras is then presented. The chapter concludes with a discussion of some current challenges.

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Acknowledgements

Figures 28.2, 28.9, 28.10, 28.11 are reprinted from Chap. 5 of Advances in Computers, Vol. 82, Graham Thomas, “Virtual Graphics for Broadcast Production”, with permission from Elsevier.

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Thomas, G. (2011). Sports TV Applications of Computer Vision. In: Moeslund, T., Hilton, A., Krüger, V., Sigal, L. (eds) Visual Analysis of Humans. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-997-0_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-997-0_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-996-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-997-0

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