Previs-Real: Interactive virtual previsualization system for news shooting rehearsal and evaluation
Published in Virtual Reality & Intelligent Hardware, 2024
Abstract: Background In the demanding field of live news broadcasting, the intricate studio production procedures and tight schedules pose significant challenges for physical rehearsals by cameramen. This paper explores the design and implementation of a lightweight virtual news previsualization system, leveraging virtual production technology and interaction design methods to address the lack of fidelity in presentations and manipulations, and the quantitative feedback of rehearsal effects in previous virtual approaches. Methods Our system, Previs-Real, is informed by user investigation with professional cameramen and studio technicians, and adheres to principles of high fidelity, accurate replication of actual hardware operations, and real-time feedback on rehearsal results. The system’s software and hardware development are implemented based on Unreal Engine and accompanying toolsets, incorporating cutting-edge modeling and camera calibration methods. Results We validated Previs-Real through a user study, demonstrating superior performance in previsualization shooting tasks using the virtual system compared to traditional camera setups. The findings, supported by both objective performance metrics and subjective responses, underline Previs-Real’s effectiveness and potential in transforming news broadcasting rehearsals. Conclusions Previs-Real eliminates the requirement for complex equipment interconnections and team coordination inherent in a physical studio by implementing methodologies complying the above principles, objectively resulting in a lightweight design of applicable version of virtual news previsualization system. It offers a novel solution to the challenges in news studio previsualization by focusing on key operational features rather than full environment replication. This design approach is equally effective in the process of designing lightweight systems in other fields.
Recommended citation: Che Qu, Shaocong Wang, Chao Zhou, Tongchen Zhao, Rui Guo, Cheng Wa Wong, Chi Deng, Bin Ji, Yuhui Wen, Yuanchun Shi, Yong-Jin Liu, Previs-Real:Interactive virtual previsualization system for news shooting rehearsal and evaluation,Virtual Reality & Intelligent Hardware,Volume 6, Issue 6,2024,Pages 527-549,ISSN 2096-5796,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vrih.2024.12.001.