This Week In VR Sports: Augmented Sports Continues To Grow

It is once again time for another entry in This Week In VR Sport. Every week VRFocus brings you a number of sports and eSports related virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) stories. With the World Cup in full swing it is time to look elsewhere in the world of sports to see what is going on. Ncam technologies has joined the Sports Video Group to demonstration AR solutions to sports broadcasters, Snapchat lets you go up against Serena Williams and McLaren is taking on eSports.

Ncam Technologies Partner With The Sports Video Group

Ncam Technologies, a company aimed at delivering effective and reliable real-time AR solutions, has become a corporate sponsor of the Sports Video Group. The work of the Ncam Technologies has been used in the gamification of sports, product launches and digital product placement. Joining the Sports Video Group, they will be aiming to demonstration the possibilities of AR technology for use in sports broadcasters.

“With sports viewers expecting more and more out of every broadcast they watch, only SVG can expose us to the production professionals that can bring augmented-reality technologies into the homes of their audiences,” says Morgan Beall, VP, North America sales. “Sporting-event viewers always want more information, delivered in compelling and engaging ways. As part of the SVG community, we are excited to educate fellow members and demonstrate what is possible with AR today.”

Ncam Technologies recently developed and introduced at NAB 2018 AR solutions such as Real Depth, Real Light, and Extreme.

Take On Serena Williams In New Snapchat AR Expereince

Though it is all about the football at the minute as the world cup final rapidly approaches, there was some news for the tennis fans out there earlier this week. Thanks to the work of Snapchat and Bitmoji avatars, users can experience what it might be like to go up against Serena Williams in an AR tennis match.

Thanks to the 3D Bitmoji avatars, users can launch the tennis match of a lifetime and battle against the avatar of Serena Williams in a fun AR mini-game. Players will need to move, swing and smack the ball effectively if they are wanting to have a chance at coming out on top of this match.

“Starting today, everyone can play tennis against Serena Williams…on Snapchat,” tweeted John Brennan, head of global sports partnerships at Snap, Inc. “Tap on the front-facing camera to activate an interactive 3D Bitmoji Lens and see how many points you can score against the GOAT.”

This is the latest addition to Snapchat’s AR offerings as the company continue to embrace the technology and find new ways to bring it to consumers in a fun and engaging way. VRFocus will be sure to keep you up to date on all the latest from Snapchat in the future.

Formula 1 Team McLaren Partner With HTC Vive For eSports Series

Earlier this week it was announced that HTC Vive are partnering with McLaren for an eSports series called Shadow Project. The project is an expanded version of the ‘World’s Fastest Gamer’ event, which was held in 2017. The winner of Shadow Project will land a spot on McLaren’s new eSports racing team and have the chance to even become part of the world famous Formula 1 team as a simulation driver.

Shadow Project will expand the titles that are included within the lineup by bringing smartphone titles like Real Racing 3 next to the likes of Forza Motorsport, iRacing and rFactor 2. It will be owned by McLaren which offers an interesting branding and marketing opportunity for the company and for eSports as a whole. HTC Vive and Dell’s Alienware hardware solutions will offer a reliable base for the event to run on with partners such as Logitech G, Sparco, EA and Microsoft also having been involved at some point.

With VR-enabled racing titles now able to be brought into the event line up it offers a unique experience that will offer views and participation the chance to enjoy immersive titles within an eSports scene.

That is all for This Week In VR Sport. For more on immersive sport news keep reading VRFocus and remember to check back next week for another This Week In VR Sport.

Ncam Plan To Improve AR with New Lighting Solutions

One of the most critical things to get right when creating virtual objects is also one of the most subtle. Lighting, shadows and depth are not something that users always consciously notice, but they are certainly aware when an augmented reality (AR) object looks ‘wrong’. To improve the quality of AR, Ncam Technologies are planning on launching new products and solutions to give AR a more naturalistic look.

The new range of products and solutions are planned to be launched at the NAB Show, which is planned to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, from 7th-12th April, 2018.

The products include Real Light, which has been created to help make digital objects integrate better into the real world when used in AR. Real Light captures information about real world lighting, such as direction, colour and intensity and renders it into AR in real-time, adapting dynamically to changes in lighting conditions.

Also being launched are Real Depth and Extreme. Real Depth provides an automated solution for AR depth-sensing, which allows AR users to better engage with the virtual surroundings. While Extreme is an updated camera-tracking solution that has better performance under unfavourable lighting conditions, such as one stage under strobe lighting effects.

Nic Hatch, CEO, Ncam, said, “These new technologies take our augmented reality platform to the next level, providing our customers with unrivalled possibilities, enabling an even more realistic look to graphics content.”

All three solutions will be available with live demonstrations at Ncam’s booth, C5629 at NAB 2018. The technology will also be in use at the booths of manufacturers such as Avid in booth SU801, Ventuz in booth SL13316 and Vizrt in booth SL2416.

Further information on Ncam Technologies can be found at its website, and updates and information on NAB 2018 will be available on the official website. VRFocus will continue to bring you news on new and innovative AR and VR products.

Ncam Technologies Secures Funding for its AR Solutions

Augmented reality (AR) solutions specialist Ncam Technologies has announced that it has received a significant injection of funds via YFM Equity Partners (YFM) to be used to support the development of new products.

Ncam

The actual investment figure hasn’t been disclosed, with the funding announcement also including the appointment of two key members of staff to its management team, Mike Grieve as Chief Commercial Officer and Christina Williams as Head of Marketing.

Grieve brings over 25 years of media industry experience to the CCO role, most recently from RED Digital Cinema where he spent nearly three years as Sales Director EMEA. Williams appointment will help to strengthen the company’s global brand and communication channels as she was previously Senior Marketing Manager at RED Digital Cinema EMEA, as well as gaining marketing expertise from companies including G-Technology and GAME.

Nic Hatch, CEO, Ncam, said in a statement: “As augmented reality and real-time visual effects continue their rapid growth, more and more industries are seeing the opportunities that they bring. This additional funding will help us develop our award-winning technologies still further and improve the way we bring them to diverse market sectors around the world. The appointments of Mike and Christina will also help us realise our growth ambitions and reach new audiences, and we are actively seeking additional global talent to join our dynamic team.”

Ncam

“With the support of YFM we can rapidly execute our growth plans, allowing us to develop our market potential and fulfil our global ambitions of becoming a market leader of augmented reality,” added Craig Deacon, CFO, Ncam.

Alongside the development of new products, Ncam Technologies will expand its global team and help the business extend its reach into new vertical markets as well as new territories – especially the USA and China where new office openings are planned for later in the year. For any further updates on Ncam Technologies and its plans for AR, keep reading VRFocus.