IMC's Dodeca 2360 System is a compact, lightweight, unified camera system that generates
synchronized high resolution video streams representing a full-motion spherical world.
Complete with directional sound, the images can be experienced live or in a pre recorded
form. IMC's patented approach covers image capture, display and distribution.
IMC's patented high-powered DSP viewing engine blends all of the camera image streams together in real time at
full resolution, 30 times a second and may be used as a viewfinder in the field for immersive
recording, to show exactly what is being recorded as a blended image. More than one ImmersiViewer
unit may be used at once, so that multiple independent point of view windows can be generated within
a single immersive environment. This point of view window may be displayed on a computer monitor,
video screen, or in a head-mounted display, where one can look around simply by turning one's head.
In addition to this personal point of view window, the Spherical Video image streams are also suitable
for direct projection onto a dome screen, providing the audience with a communal immersive experience.
Once IMC's custom high-performance digital video recording platform has recorded the surroundings the
custom post production stitching software creates blended "sphere movies" showing the whole environment
in motion at once, using QuickTime® or Windows Media® Player. These sphere movies are suitable for recording
on CDs or DVDs and are compatible with image standards such as MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, and may also be broadcast
using HDTV resolution channels. Finally, to look around within this pre-recorded world, there is IMC's software for Windows.
Spherical Field of View:
Full environments can be recorded and transmitted at a resolution of 2400x1200 pixels per frame, 30 frames per second.
Highest Resolution:
Eleven video streams build up maximum resolution using over 100 million pixels per second.
Maximum Display Options:
By virtue of superior resolution display options are unrestricted.
Geodesic Geometry:
Most efficient division of the sphere for consistent quality in all directions.
Patented Approach:
Covers image capture, display and distribution.
Immediate Results:
Live pre-blended full motion immersive image.
Immersive Recording:
Review and edit immersive images easily.
Long Recording Time:
Up to three hours of full motion at a time on hot-swappable hard disks.
Special Recording Modes:
Time-lapse recording and playback, special low-light modes.
Advanced Camera Control:
Unified color and exposure controls for all camera channels.
Standard Video Monitoring:
All images available for monitoring using standard NTSC video.
Custom Image Engine:
Central control of image enhancement, compression and playback.
Remote Control:
All camera and recording functions controllable through external interface.
Connection to Computer Network:
High-speed Gigabit Ethernet and USB2.0 available for access and archiving of immersive recordings.
Portable System:
The camera, recorder and control pad together weigh less than 25 lbs.
Small Immersive Camera:
The camera head is less than 2.5 lbs., and is less than 9" tall.
Shock Mount:
Optional mount minimizes camera motion from a person carrying it.
Extended Connection:
Cat. 5E cable to camera can be up to 400' long, thin optical cable can be up to a mile.
Small Portable Recorder:
Fits in a daypack, weighs only 20 lbs., battery or AC powered.
Surround Sound:
Up to four directional sound channels are recorded with the image.
Added Data Tracks:
Time, GPS and additional data can be recorded together with the image.
Editing Control:
Desired scenes can be quickly marked and offloaded as needed.
Direct Dome Screen Projection:
The image channels subdivide naturally into hemispheres.
Full Sphere Motion Images:
Full sphere blended motion images can be generated using regular Windows® computers.
Immersive Disk Distribution:
Immersive programming can be distributed on regular CDs or DVDs
The enormous number of pixels recorded enables the highest image quality in every
direction. The result is consistent image resolution across the entire spherical frame, with photographic
realism and full motion. Over 100 million pixels per second are recorded, resulting in spherical frames
of 2400x1200 pixels, 30 frames per second. With the Dodeca 2360, software is not required to
correct sub-standard image resolution.
Both form and performance can be scaled up or down to meet your needs. The use of digital video
standards enables readily available state-of-the-art components to be added, representing new capabilities
in image recording, transmission and playback. Ongoing advances in digital video will make the medium ever
more cost-effective in the future, while the use of video standards will maintain compatibility with what
has been done in the past. The Dodeca Camera, ImmersiViewer, Immersive Recorder and other essential
system components are scalable to the smallest physical footprint as permitted by state-of-the-art electronic
imaging science. Where physical size is not critical to a given application, more system components can be
added and integrated, such as optical image intensifiers or outboard data stream generators.
Producers can edit Spherical Video productions on desktop systems, examining any captured moment, and
adding visual effects and interactivity to the image. While shooting, the operator can precisely control
the camera's properties to achieve the best overall immersive image. The operator may view a fully blended
immersive image as it is being recorded in a compressed form, and look around within the immersive image
during playback. The playback can be from any point, at any speed and direction, just as in the best
single-channel hard-disk based digital video systems.
All images are accompanied by various data forms, including timing and GPS data and directional multichannel
sound. The recording can be quickly edited, and any sections of interest offloaded through a standard network
connection. Any image stream component of a spherical view may be independently manipulated with digital video
effects, such as new image or data overlays, without affecting other parts of the immersive image. Image transmission
and distribution rates are scalable to match the available transmission bandwidth, and special preview modes are
available to allow rapid review. Full navigation within the immersive image is available at any time using either
the Spherical Video ImmersiViewer for the camera streams or the IMViewer software for the final blended images.
Because of its compatibility with existing video standards, content producers can apply their preferences for
existing third party video post production systems and software in combination with the custom software tools designed
by IMC. The IMC tools include a feature rich image stitching engine and the IMViewer final viewing software. In
combination, the IMC tools and third party specialized video software give the content producer unprecedented control
over the nature of the final spherical movie or database. Finally, the content producer determines the completed look,
resolution and stored file size for each spherical movie or database to fit the requirements of any application
Options for image display include a live experience of the immersive world using a head mounted display, DVD
playback on a PC at home, a group immersive experience in a dome theater, and distribution via broadband as a new
form of rich media video content. The high-resolution images and proprietary image processing offer a variety of
ways to display final immersive images. The immersive video streams may be projected onto a dome or large screen
configurations for group viewing. Other viewing options are CRT or LCD flat screens and head-mounted display systems.
Immersive images may also be viewed on personal computers, with superior playback and navigation performance when advanced
CPUs and graphic cards are utilized.
Image files may be stored and distributed via any state-of-the-art commercial grade recorded media such as DVDs,
hard drives and micro-drives. The final file size may be reduced using any number of standard compression technologies.
This means that, under most operating conditions, the spherical movies or immersive video databases are deployable from
the field for playback, viewing and image navigation. Images may be viewed spherically using the IMViewer software for
looking around, or in an overall panoramic sphere movie format utilizing standard video playback platforms such as Windows
Media® Player or QuickTime®. Ultimately, complete spherical environments will be transmitted live, in real-time, from one
source to multiple locations. Quality is dependent only on the transmission bandwidth capacity.
[Back to Top]
