Is the Era of Virtual Reality (VR) Live Streaming Beginning? Localization of 360-Degree Video Real-Time Streaming Technology
Published2016.10.18 18:26Development of differential compression and eye-tracking transmission technology with wide future applications in defense, medical, and education
The 'era of real-time VR (virtual reality) viewing,' which has previously been difficult to livestream due to high data consumption, is expected to begin.
SK Telecom announced that it has developed technology capable of high-quality 4K VR (Virtual Reality) live streaming and demonstrated it at its R&D center in Bundang.
'High-definition VR live streaming' technology is a solution that synthesizes and compresses videos captured through a 360-degree camera into a single VR video and sends it to the user's TV or smartphone, enabling the viewing of VR live streaming.
In particular, VR live streaming technology offers superior immersion compared to conventional broadcasting by allowing viewers to freely watch desired matches in real time. It is currently being utilized not only for live sports broadcasts but also for e-sports and K-pop concerts, and there is high potential for its future application in fields such as national defense, medicine, and education.
In this demonstration, SK Telecom showcased high-definition VR live streaming technology that uses a 'ultra-low latency high-definition VR streaming solution' to synthesize and compress video input from six cameras into 4K UHD video in real time, transmits it seamlessly, and allows it to be downloaded to a smartphone.
SK Telecom plans to commercialize this technology by applying it to various VR fields, while simultaneously pushing for its technology to be included in standardization at the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) meeting, a multimedia standards organization, to be held in Chengdu, China, on the 17th.am.
VR video requires a large amount of data because it must transmit all 360-degree video around the camera. Therefore, unless the video resolution is reduced or the overall quality of the video is lowered, the amount of data cannot keep up with the transmission speed, resulting in stuttering during playback.
To solve this problem, SK Telecom has developed and applied its own 'differential tiling' technology, which allows users to view the main viewing area where their gaze falls in 4K high definition, and the surrounding area where their gaze falls less in Full HD standard definition.
In addition, it is characterized by the development of a technology that tracks the user's gaze and rapidly changes the position of the 4K high-definition area according to the gaze, so that the user can always see only the high-definition area.
With this technology, wireless data consumption is reduced by 65% compared to existing methods even when watching in 4K high definition, which not only significantly lowers the burden of data usage for customers but also reduces interruptions and freezing.
SK Telecom explained that while real-time streaming technology for VR services has previously relied on foreign equipment, it succeeded in localizing the solution by enhancing its completeness through the Korea Internet & Security Agency (NIA)'s 'Giga Internet Leading Pilot Project' and incorporating technologies*.
Park Jin-hyo, Head of SK Telecom’s Network Technology Institute, stated, “This VR live streaming technology will take the customer experience with VR, which is garnering attention as killer content, to the next level,” adding, “SK Telecom will lead the development of innovative technologies that enhance both customer experience and viewing convenience.”
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