Technology – Gordon Marantz

28 Feb

Metawhat?

What is the metaverse? That's the big question because different people and different companies define the metaverse differently. For some, it's the next evolution of virtual and augmented reality. For most, it's an immersive internet that you are part of. Meta (formerly Facebook) did not create the metaverse. Some think the metaverse was a concept that Zuckerberg and others came up with but that simply isn't true. The term metaverse can be traced back to Neal Stephenson and his dystopian novel Snow Crash. The novel was released in 1992. In this book, the metaverse is a combination of virtual reality, augmented reality, and…

26 Nov

UPDATE: Disney Stuntbots

It's official, Disney has announced it will be using its "stuntbots" at the new Avengers Campus which is planned to open at Disney California Adventure Park in 2021. We're going to see Spiderman brought to life like never before. Developed by the Disney Imagineering stickman project, fans will be able to witness advanced robotic technology capable of performing various acrobatic combinations of flips, twists and poses in mid-air. https://youtu.be/6BIMS8ZDBd0 Spiderman will be flying within the rooftops of the Spiderman attraction building. Aerial photographs have identified a load platform and landing area. I can't wait to see this technology in action…

17 May

Robotic Process Automation

Robotic process automation (RPA) is the application of technology that allows employees in a company to configure computer software or software robots (bots) to capture and interpret existing applications for processing a transaction, manipulating data, triggering responses and communicating with other digital systems. Any company that uses labor on a large scale for general knowledge process work, where people are performing high-volume, highly transactional process functions, will boost their capabilities and save money and time with RPA software. RPA technology consists of bots that can mimic a human worker. RPA bots can log into applications, enter data, calculate and complete tasks…

06 Mar

AR Shopping

The real world simply isn’t enough. Augmented Reality (AR) is beginning to grow throughout the retail industry. AR trends nowadays significantly influence a brand’s marketing strategy. Not surprisingly, mobile devices have become a vital element of the sales process, especially in decision-making. Following this trend, AR has emerged as an innovative tool that allows brands to interact with consumers on their mobile devices. AR creates a new digital experience that enriches the relationship between consumer and brand and can be used in any location, be it PC at home, mobile devices or kiosks in stores. Integration of AR in marketing…

18 Nov

Disney’s Human Speaker

Imagine if you could simply touch someone’s ear to make them hear something. A project out of Disney Research makes it possible. Disney Research has crossed these wires in a project called Ishin-Den-Shin (a Japanese expression for communicating through an unspoken mutual understanding). Developed by Olivier Bau, Ivan Poupyrev, and Yuri Suzuki, the system records sounds through a device fitted to the microphone that creates a "modulated electrostatic field" around the user's skin. When touching another person's ear, this modulated electrostatic field creates a very small vibration of the earlobe. As a result, both the finger and the ear together form a speaker, that makes the…

20 Jul

Disney Stuntbots

Disneyland has been planning to have humanoid robots fly across stages posing as famous Marvel, Star Wars, or Pixar characters. Walt Disney Imagineering in Burbank, California, have been developing robots known as ‘stuntbots’ for a number of years now and is now close to coming into fruition. https://youtu.be/ENa98h7M7qY The stuntbots could also be used in live theatre performances at Disney owned resorts and themed parks. Autonomous Stuntronics are self-correcting aerial performers able to make on-the-go corrections during a high-flying stunt, to ensure that they land safely. Imagineering have made significant advances in the field of animatronics. Animatronics are static, lifelike robots that already entertain crowds…

01 Apr

Slack

I recently had the opportunity to attend a technical talk with Slack CTO, Cal Henderson. We had already been using Slack within our teams, and it had proven to be much more efficient than prior tools. While email has its place, it has become a noisy distraction. Email is an overused tool that consumes too much of our time, energy and focus. Most of us hate email, and for good reason - we send and receive too much, and sifting through many trivial messages to find the vital few has become a chore. But it’s not just email that’s the…

25 Feb

Moving to ATSC 3.0

ATSC 3.0 Advanced Television Systems Committee 3.0 (ATSC 3.0) has been released and our government is allowing broadcasters to adopt it. Greater transmission efficiency combined with more robustness is going to allow broadcasters to do more in the same amount of spectrum and at the same time provide higher quality. Consumers will be able to get an internet type of experience combined with broadcast television (aka linear television). What's the big deal? The move to ATSC 3.0 is not just about delivering better image quality and more channels; it’s about customization. Key audio features of the new standard…

24 Jan

Blockchain Technology in Entertainment

What applications are there for blockchain in the media and entertainment industry? Many entertainment and media companies are trying to ride the blockchain wave in order to raise more funds. Simply put, the blockchain technology enables a decentralized digital marketplace and ensures transparent transactions. In the entertainment and media context, blockchain will help with disintermediation, distribution, and royalties. For instance, live streaming hosts will be able to connect with fans without any intermediaries. The gaming industry has been the first in entertainment and media to integrate blockchain technology, with Ethereum-based game “CryptoKitties” being one of the most popular games. Despite…

21 Jan

CES 2018 – Samsung’s “The Wall”

CES 2018 - Samsung's "The Wall" could change your media experience. Could you see these on every other wall in the mall? How 'bout at your favorite bar? Maybe just put a scaled down version in restrooms? Samsung made some of the most exciting TV news at the 2018 CES: The first consumer TV based on micro-LED technology (aka MicroLED, mLED, and µLED). You can think of the mLEDs in the 146-inch, 8K UHD (7680 by 4320 pixels) "The Wall" is significantly brighter using non-organic OLEDs that similarly provide their own individual, energy-efficient light source. Micro-LEDs eliminate the need for both…