The reality of virtual TV studios

Abstract

Virtual television took a step closer to reality when BBC TV'sTomorrow's World demonstrated a new technology which will allow TV programme makers to stretch the limits of their artistic imagination. The technique enables programme makers to create imaginative studio sets with limitless perspectives, sweeping camera shots, and where the quality of imagery is almost indistinguishable from the real thing, but at a fraction of the cost.

Tomorrow's World viewers saw the result when presenter Howard Stableford stepped onto a ‘virtual set’ depicting a Roman Bath, in which he sees himself playing characters in a pastiche ofJulius Caesar andUp Pompeii. In reality Stableford was filmed in a conventional TV studio, but the set was created artificially using technology which combines computer graphics and a motion controlled camera. Unlike other attempts at virtual sets, where only the virtual set, or the actor, or the camera is in motion, this technique allows simultaneous motion of all three. The resulting sequence of just over two minutes was broadcast on BBC TV as part of theTomorrow's World-Christmas Special on 22 December 1995.