Virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree video streaming company Visbit have announced that they have successfully streamed 360-degree video in 12K, using commercially available hardware.
12K video is very close to the level of detail for average human vision. This technology will allow for much higher quality VR video streams. Visbit’s new system means that users watching video streams can zoom in and focus on specific details in a way that was previously impossible. The applications for such technology include the ability for surgeons to stream a procedure to colleagues and peers all over the globe to get their advice, or judges in sporting events able to focus in on a specific event to determine if it is allowable under the rules or not. There are also applications when it comes to safety, as a video stream in sufficient quality taken during a disaster could be examined for clues to the cause.
“Today, 360-degree videos are mostly streamed at 1080p and occasionally at 4K. You rarely hear of 6K video streaming, so 12K, a resolution that is very close to the acuity of 20/20 human vision, is unheard of, especially when streaming on today’s regular Wi-Fi and LTE conditions,” said Visbit Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Changyin (CY) Zhou. “There have been advancements in networking technology, such as Intel and Ericsson’s recent demo of a 5G prototype to support 8K VR live streaming from a local server at Mobile World Congress this year, but average consumers won’t have 5G at home for years to come. With our Visbit View-Optimized Streaming technology, 12K video in 360-degrees can run on today’s networks with existing hardware, meaning that viewers can now zoom in and focus on granular details with today’s 2.5K HMD screen and achieve a viewing experience equal to 12K. This unlocks a whole new user experience for viewing 360-degree VR video, as well as new possibilities for content creation.”
Visbit’s streaming service is currently in closed Beta on Gear VR and Google Cardboard. The open Beta is expected to become available later this year.
VRFocus will bring you further updates on Visbit and VR streaming as they come in.