Spherical Immersive Video: Navigate, Control, Explore

Up until now, I've focused primarily on 3D innovations that affect the photographic industry. Although some of these photographic innovations have dynamic properties that allow users to freely move throughout a virtual environment, it's important to note that the raw data used to build them is wholly static/still. Examples include: equirectangular photos, Photosynth, and photorealistic 3D models.

What we must understand is that photo-based technology is not the only medium charging down this path. Video technology too, has improved to a point where spacial environments can be freely navigated by the end user. The main difference is that in order for immersive video to be produced, literally petabytes of information need to be stored, rendered, and allocated. Here's a compressed sample of the footage I'm speaking about. While the footage is playing, drag your cursor inside the video window to change your field of view:

If you want to see more demo videos, click here.

So how is immersive video made?

To achieve this type of footage, eleven individual lenses must be organized in a dodecahedron pattern; thus, the camera is appropriately entitled the Dodeca 2360 (but is also known as a telemersion camera). The device itself is produced by a company called Immersive Media. The recorded footage is seamlessly stitched in real time - similar to that of equirectangular photographs.

The result is a 360° view of the camera's immediate surroundings. It is capable of recording 100 million pixels per second (higher than HDTV) at 30 frames per second. Omnidirectional audio is recorded via four built-in microphones. GPS metadata is also recorded. The Dodeca 2360 retails at about $45,000, which can easily be bumped up to close to $100K with mounts and accessories.
With digital storage issues and overall costs like this, it makes sense that one of Immersive Media's number one clients is Google. In fact, Google's Street View technology uses screen shots from this exact video footage. Immersive Media appropriately leads this operation and has already recorded video reaching many tens of thousands of miles across the USA with other countries currently in the works. There are five "street view" teams from IM who each gather about 1000 miles of footage per month. Volkswagon Beetles are outfitted with the high-tech gear because their physical body design is low to the ground and smoothly contoured allowing for the maximum video coverage.Street mapping is not the only application this technology can be used for. Here's a list of possible uses:

Security Surveillance
Mapping and GPS
Real Estate
Aerial Inspections
Virtual Tourism
Marketing / Advertising
Broadcasting / TV
Live Event Coverage
Gaming

This technology may not be immediately relevant to photographers and videographers currently working in the industry, as the setup costs alone will likely keep any or all curious onlookers at bay. However, it is extremely important to stay aware of innovations like these as they pose to revolutionize the media industry. Furthermore, it exists as yet another facet in the long list of world mapping initiatives that employ experts in the areas of photo, video, and multi-media. In other words, it is vital in today's world to go beyond the still photograph if you expect to compete in the media market.