Category: Interesting Technology

What does the human bring?

Post author By Philip
Post date January 17, 2013
6 Comments on What does the human bring?

I have a strong interest – personally and professionally – to want to automate the boring parts of post-production away from humans to computers, extending to some of the basic string-outs. This seems to infringe on the “human” role in postproduction, at least according to some of my associates. Well, lately I’ve come across a whole series of stories on how traditionally human roles, like doctors (and assistant editors), can or will be automated out of existence. That’s led me to think about what is the essential role of the human that can’t be automated? It’s not a simple question.

Interesting Technology

Are Pixels Doomed?

Pixels – those little dots that make up all our video images – are hard to encode and push down pipelines, even with ever-increasing encoding efficiency. On the other hand, vectors are small and very efficient, but so far have proved difficult to apply to video content.

Interesting Technology

But How Do You Really Feel? Someday the Computer May Know

Post author By Philip
Post date October 18, 2012
6 Comments on But How Do You Really Feel? Someday the Computer May Know

As I’m sure you’re all aware, my special interest is in the Pre-post production area, specifically how we can automate out the boring work and optimize workflow for editors to do their thing in turning the raw material into a polished gem.

Of course, metadata is going to play a big part in doing this. In fact, story building algorithms are relatively easy – as we demonstrate with First Cuts Studio. What is hard is to derive the necessary metadata without taking the time for a human to enter it.

If we ever want to be able to judge performance or recognize emotion in a face in a shot, we need a computer to recognize emotion. And they are. In the New York Times from October 15th comesÂ But How Do You Really Feel? Someday the Computer May Know:

Business & Marketing Interesting Technology

Using Analytics to Predict Hollywood Blockbusters

Post author By Philip
Post date October 17, 2012

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/10/using_analytics_to_predict_hollywood_blockbusters.html

Traditionally movies got greenlit on the “gut feeling” of some executive. After failures likeÂ John Carter from Mars perhaps it’s time to consider some modern, data-intensive methods instead. (I love big data and what it can tell us.)

Interesting Technology Item of Interest

Program learns to recognize rough sketches.

Post author By Philip
Post date September 20, 2012

Program learns to recognize rough sketches of objects http://t.co/bl3YWEclÂ

Interesting Technology Item of Interest

Expect Labsâ€™ MindMeld iPad App Understands Your Conversations in Real Time.

Post author By Philip
Post date September 20, 2012

Expect Labsâ€™ MindMeld iPad App Understands Your Conversations In Real Time http://t.co/Y8Mx9PWC

First off, I need this!

Interesting Technology Item of Interest

FBI launches $1 billion face recognition project

Post author By Philip
Post date September 7, 2012
1 Comment on FBI launches $1 billion face recognition project

FBI launches $1 billion face recognition project http://t.co/G7SSZclO

The technology behind facial recognition is growing better all the time. Various companies, including Apple, are building up portfolios of relevant technology to implement into their application. Now the FBI have their own “application” (catching bad guys) but:

Interesting Technology Item of Interest The Technology of Production

Adobe Anywhere

Post author By Philip
Post date September 5, 2012

Adobe Anywhere collaborative editing in a familiar environment. http://t.co/u8AFGLKN

Interesting Technology The Technology of Production

Small production footprint: flying cameras [Updated]

Post author By Philip
Post date September 5, 2012
4 Comments on Small production footprint: flying cameras [Updated]

One of the pleasures of the whole Solar Odyssey experience was my exposure to Hoverfly, who had signed on as a sponsor for Solar Odyssey (although it never actually happened).

HTML5 Interesting Technology Item of Interest

JavaScript video technology only 17 years in the making

Post author By Philip
Post date August 22, 2012

JavaScript video technology only 17 years in the making http://t.co/t1FCSNf7 Not sure why this is relevant, but you might have an idea!

Yes, the lack of need for a browser plug-in is good, but that’s the role of HTML5 which has largely standardized on H.264/MP4 (thank goodness). It will be hard to win against the momentum behind HTML5 and frankly I’d prefer there not to be another alternative, now that we have finally got something like a standard.

Personally, I think this is an interesting technology looking for a reason to exist. I find the claims of “90% less bandwidth” to be suspect at best, and the company provides no details on their site (that I could find).