Warwick Spinout, goHDR, commended in Research Councils UK Business Plan competition
A start-up company that is developing the next generation of TV imaging techniques has received a commendation in a national business plan competition.
goHDR was a runner-up in the Research Councils UK Business Plan competition, which attracts entries from university start-up ventures from all over the UK.
The technology that goHDR is working to exploit is called High Dynamic Range Imaging. It enables real life, as opposed to studio-lit scenes, to be captured with an amazing range of lighting subtlety, avoiding the impenetrable shadows or washed-out light spots that can currently spoil scenes filmed in natural light.
The spin-out company was set up with the support of Warwick Ventures, the University of Warwick’s technology transfer office, with the aim of developing the technology to the point where it can be licensed to camera manufacturers.
Led by Professor Alan Chalmers at the University of Warwick’s WMG Digital Laboratory, goHDR has access to the world’s first HDR video camera. This camera is capable of capturing 20 f-stops of lighting at 1920x1080 resolution at 30 frames per second.
The particular challenge being addressed by goHDR is to find ways of managing the huge data stream that the camera produces. Normal video cameras can capture 9 gigabytes of data per minute of footage, whereas the HDR camera takes up 42 gigabytes per minute – too much information to be able to send to a TV or computer screen. An algorithm has been developed which can compress the information produced by the camera by over 100:1, without losing the perceptual quality of the picture.
“This is a really important development in video technology, which we think could be as significant as the move from black and white to colour television pictures,” says Professor Chalmers.
Further information:
Dr. Ederyn Williams
Director
Warwick Ventures Ltd.
ederyn.williams@warwick.ac.uk
+44 (0) 2476 573750
goHDR was a runner-up in the Research Councils UK Business Plan competition, which attracts entries from university start-up ventures from all over the UK.
The technology that goHDR is working to exploit is called High Dynamic Range Imaging. It enables real life, as opposed to studio-lit scenes, to be captured with an amazing range of lighting subtlety, avoiding the impenetrable shadows or washed-out light spots that can currently spoil scenes filmed in natural light.
The spin-out company was set up with the support of Warwick Ventures, the University of Warwick’s technology transfer office, with the aim of developing the technology to the point where it can be licensed to camera manufacturers.
Led by Professor Alan Chalmers at the University of Warwick’s WMG Digital Laboratory, goHDR has access to the world’s first HDR video camera. This camera is capable of capturing 20 f-stops of lighting at 1920x1080 resolution at 30 frames per second.
The particular challenge being addressed by goHDR is to find ways of managing the huge data stream that the camera produces. Normal video cameras can capture 9 gigabytes of data per minute of footage, whereas the HDR camera takes up 42 gigabytes per minute – too much information to be able to send to a TV or computer screen. An algorithm has been developed which can compress the information produced by the camera by over 100:1, without losing the perceptual quality of the picture.
“This is a really important development in video technology, which we think could be as significant as the move from black and white to colour television pictures,” says Professor Chalmers.
Further information:
Dr. Ederyn Williams
Director
Warwick Ventures Ltd.
ederyn.williams@warwick.ac.uk
+44 (0) 2476 573750