Michael Starling and Robert Winteringham as Vice-Presidents

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (February 2, 2012) – The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) is pleased to announce that Sirius XM Radio Inc.’s Technical Executive, Robert D. Briskman, has been elected unanimously to serve as NABA’s new President, succeeding Leonardo Ramos of Televisa. His two-year term will begin at the NABA Annual General Meeting on February 29, 2012.

NABA’s Board of Directors is confident that Mr. Briskman’s passion, vision and guidance will provide the Association with leadership at this time of industry change. As a longstanding member of the NABA Board of Directors and Executive, Mr. Briskman has developed a great appreciation for the rapid pace of innovation and commitment in this collaborative forum.

Robert Briskman has been with SiriusXM since the founding in 1991 as Satellite CD Radio Inc. As the technical innovator of mobile satellite radio services, he was responsible for the original development, implementation and operation of the SiriusXM broadcast distribution system. He previously was a founding member of COMSAT and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Mr. Briskman is also a Fellow of both the IEEE and AIAA and has been inducted into three Halls of Fame.

Re-elected as NABA Vice-Presidents were Michael Starling, Executive Director & CTO, National Public Radio (NPR) Labs and Robert Winteringham, Deputy General Counsel, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Michael Starling is responsible for spearheading new public service technology initiatives on behalf of NPR and has worked in both private and public service broadcasting. Mr. Starling also serves as Chair of NABA’s Technical Committee. Robert Winteringham joined CPB in 1997 and has previously held legal positions at a variety of communications and advertising firms. Mr. Winteringham also serves as Chair of NABA’s Legal Committee.
ABOUT NABA
NABA is a non-profit association of the most influential broadcasting organizations throughout North America committed to advancing the interests of broadcasters at home and internationally. Network broadcasters, both public and private, in the United States, Mexico and Canada, work together to provide a common voice for the North American broadcast community. As a member of the World Broadcasting Unions (WBU), NABA creates the opportunity for North American broadcasters to share information, identify common interests and reach consensus on issues of an international nature.

ROBERT BRISKMAN TO SERVE AS NABA PRESIDENT

Broadcast Digital TV Evolving To Reflect Changing Audience

New Features to Love with TV Highlighted at Valentine’s Day ATSC Event during Hollywood Post Alliance California Tech Retreat

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2012 – Local television broadcasters may soon offer Internet connectivity, 3D broadcasting, on-demand programs and additional features for viewers as standards for broadcast television evolves to reflect the needs of TV viewers.

 These and other proposed enhancements will be highlighted by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) when it discusses new “ATSC 2.0” capabilities for broadcast digital TV at the Hollywood Post Alliance Technology Retreat in mid-February.  The current broadcast TV standard was developed by ATSC and its members.

 “The needs of viewers and broadcasters are changing, and we’re committed to the evolution of the broadcast digital TV standard to keep pace with consumer demands.  These enhancements to digital television broadcasting culminate in an initiative we call ATSC 2.0.   Among other things, ATSC 2.0 contemplates the marriage of broadcasting and the Internet,” said ATSC President Mark Richer.

“ATSC 2.0 is intended to address the increasing desire on the part of consumers for ‘everything-on-demand,’ which has changed customer expectations of media. ATSC 2.0 services will be carried in DTV broadcast channels and their presence will not preclude or interfere with proper operation of current ATSC services in the same RF channel, or have any adverse impact on legacy receiving equipment.  Longer term, we’re also starting work on what we call ‘ATSC 3.0,’ which will reinvent broadcast TV as we know it,” Richer explained.

“ATSC 2.0 – Enhancing Today’s DTV Services” is a four-hour seminar at the upcoming Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 in Indian Wells, Calif.  Registration for the conference, which runs during the week of Feb. 13, is now open at www.HPAonline.com.  The four-hour seminar outlines work underway on the key aspects of ATSC 2.0, including non-real-time capability, Internet-enabled services, 3D and more.

The concept of “ATSC 2.0” is to take the experience of television—watching on fixed receivers—to the next level by introducing a number of enhanced features based on newly-developed standards and the focused application of existing standards. Work on ATSC 2.0 is well underway on suite of backwards-compatible new services, including non-real-time (NRT) transmission, Internet connectivity, 3D TV broadcasting, and advanced video and audio compression. Technology continues its rapid pace of change, with more consumer devices being Internet-enabled, which in turn enables new distribution and consumption models for entertainment programming and information.

At the HPA ATSC seminar, led by ATSC Standards Development Vice President Jerry Whitaker, ATSC members will educate attendees on ATSC 2.0’s powerful enhancements. For example, Capitol Broadcasting’s Sam Matheny will provide an overview of ATSC 2.0 followed by Triveni Digital’s Rich Chernock, who will explain the emerging NRT (non-real-time) standard.  NAB’s Skip Pizzi will put ATSC 2.0 into context with other standards efforts like mobile DTV and 3D transmission, while Harmonic’s Pat Waddell will highlight what’s possible and what’s practical in advanced video coding.  Dolby’s Oren Williams will discuss capabilities and features of advanced audio coding and describe key elements of ATSC 2.0 and what broadcasters can expect going forward.  Finally, industry guru Mark Schubin will  present a broadcast history lesson.

“Recognizing the importance of perspective in any new project, the session will wrap up with a look at some of the fascinating history of television. Predictions from the past reveal something about where we are today, and where we may be heading,” Richer said.

# # # 

About the ATSC:  The Advanced Television Systems Committee is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television.  The ATSC member organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries.  For more information visit www.atsc.org

]]> http://www.schubincafe.com/2012/02/01/broadcast-digital-tv-evolving-to-reflect-changing-audience/feed/ 0 http://www.schubincafe.com/2012/01/31/3d-on-a-2d-screen/ http://www.schubincafe.com/2012/01/31/3d-on-a-2d-screen/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:22:25 +0000 Michael Silbergleid http://www.schubincafe.com/?p=5072 3dfocus.co.uk reports that A US/UK team have published details of an invention that will allow stereoscopic 3D content to be viewable on a regular HD 2D screen.

Read more at http://www.3dfocus.co.uk/3d-news-2/3d-technology/3d-on-a-2d-screen/7163

Geek.com reports that we all know the wonderful thing that can be done — and will be able to be done — with 3D printers. You can make yourself a great coat hanger, a killer companion cube, or even the parts for another 3D printer. That said, today there are still limitations on what one can do with extruded plastic.

One brilliant project that immediately grabbed my attention was an attempt to print a record that works with the Fisher Price toy record player. If you’ve never seen one of these, it’s a children’s wind-up toy that plays music off plastic discs. The clever part is that the records have these tabs in the tracks that push the “needle” and make sounds. It’s not entirely different then how a real record player works, but obviously it’s greatly simplified and there are limited number of tones can be made. The end result is something like the cross between a player piano and a sanza… but for kids.

Read more and watch the video at http://www.geek.com/articles/games/3d-printed-record-sort-of-plays-still-alive-20120127/

Despite this, if MIT researchers have anything to say, 3D cameras on mobile devices may soon be powerful, inexpensive and efficient.

Read more at http://www.3dtv.com/news/MIT-Working-on-Powerful-yet-Inexpensive-3D-Cameras

The council, which oversees the advertising industry’s self-regulatory practices, said LG’s Cinema 3D advertising claims were based on “materially flawed” consumer perception evidence. The campaign claimed, among other things, that in tests, “four out of five people chose LG over Sony and Samsung for overall 3D experience.”

The council also rebuffed Sony for violating advertising industry system procedures after a Sony executive allegedly contacted customers regarding the outcome of the case in advance of the NAD’s decision, and used that communication for promotional purposes.

Read more at http://www.twice.com/article/479670-LG_Sony_Rebuffed_In_3D_Ad_Dispute.php

Unique Computer Program Changes Television Viewing

*NOTICE THE COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR “ON-DEMAND ANIMATION CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY” IS REGISTERED WITH THE UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT OFFICE (2006).

SOURCE Dixon Innovations

In the deal announced Jan. 26, the giant chip maker said it will spend $120 million to buy RealNetworks’ next-generation video codec software as well as 190 patents and 170 patent applications, including what Intel calls RealNetworks’ “foundational streaming media patents.”

Read more at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Intel-Buys-Video-Technology-Patents-From-RealNetworks-862769/

Research Lab Utilizes Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Solutions to Complement and Strengthen Sennheiser’s Expertise in Electro-Acoustics and Wireless Transmission

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Jan 26, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — For more than 60 years, Sennheiser has stood for the highest quality audio products across all areas of sound recording, transmission and reproduction. This month, the company announces the official opening of its San Francisco-based research lab: SFTC (Technology and Innovation California). The opening ceremony was attended by more then 100 guests from the audio community in the Bay Area. The new research facility — which relocated from Palo Alto in November 2011, is focused on improving the customer experience through digital signal processing (DSP) technologies and combining this with Sennheiser’s world-renowned expertise in electro-acoustics and wireless transmission.

As a research hub for Sennheiser, whose slogan is “The Future Made Right Here,” SFTC creates knowledge in selected areas of DSP and facilitates knowledge transfer to Sennheiser’s product teams around the world. Many of these ideas and technologies are then adopted and integrated into Sennheiser’s consumer, professional or installed sound divisions.

“The Sennheiser culture has always been rooted in innovation and exploring what may be possible in the future,” commented Daniel Sennheiser, president strategy and finance, Sennheiser. “Our new facility in San Francisco leverages an extensive ecosystem of talents that includes not only our own visionary thinkers and researchers, but world renowned academic institutions and corporations. In this environment, our engineers are free to experiment and play with technology and processes that may eventually find its way into various consumer, pro and installed sound applications.”

“Concept Tahoe” After it finishes developing and testing a concept, Sennheiser may choose to introduce a prototype model to test its market value and gauge end-user interest. For example, last year at the prolight+sound and NAMM trade shows, Sennheiser unveiled a project that was under development at its SFTC research laboratory: “Concept Tahoe.”

This wireless microphone prototype — which drew a lot of attention by trade show attendees — is not only able to function as a high quality, professional wireless microphone, but also as an effects and processing controller — providing an unprecedented level of creative options to DJs and performers. This functionality is facilitated by the transmission of control data to a receiver, which can control any number of effects or plug-ins in real time using the MIDI protocol. The microphone can also be transformed into a tambourine or a shaker at the press of a button. By using an accelerometer and a rotation sensor, it measures how quickly it is moving and at what angle in space it is currently located. This prototype was demonstrated during the SFTC opening event, and showcased by beatboxer entertainers Butterscotch and Eklips.

“By moving the location of the SFTC to the Bay Area, our team — and by extension the entire Sennheiser organization — is able to leverage our proximity to the technology industry’s leading innovators, product designers and thought leaders. These include other multi-national companies as well as a unique network of start-ups and highly regarded institutions such as UC Berkeley and Stanford University,” commented Veronique Larcher, director of research, North America, for Sennheiser. “At SFTC, our researchers have access to an enormous pool of talent and imagination; risk taking and the cross-fertilization of ideas is strongly encouraged.”

Sennheiser launched its SFTC in 2006 and since then, its research and development work have been manifested in Sennheiser’s groundbreaking products — including the IS-ADN conference system.

The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of around EUR 468 million in 2010. Sennheiser employs more than 2,100 people worldwide, and has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA. The company is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones and monitor loudspeakers), and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).

SOURCE: Sennheiser

Conventional equipment allows the surgeon to see the patient’s organs, blood vessels and other interior structures, and to manipulate instruments with the aid of a computer monitor. But the two-dimensional image is flat, similar to watching a broadcast on TV.

There’s more at http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/style/surgeons-don-3d-glasses-get-remarkable-depth-perception-for-keyhole-surgery-137994408.html