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NHK research is honoured by IBC
By Adrian Pennington
Sometimes it takes years – even decades – to turn a good idea into reality. NHK makes a habit of it. The Japanese public service broadcaster’s research division, NHK Science and Technology Research Laboratories (STRL), stands at the forefront of broadcasting technology with a staggering record of achievements spanning 80 years that shows no sign of slowing down. Landmarks include the efforts of NHK’s technical and production teams at the Tokyo Olympics 1964, which enabled simultaneous intercontinental viewing [in the US] of the Games via satellite and in colour for the first time. Remarkably, that was also the year that NHK’s research into Hi-Vision began, paving the way for the HDTV standard we know today, while finding time to develop plasma screens en-route. In 1984 NHK pioneered the world’s first direct broadcast satellite service, for which it was awarded an IEEE Milestone Award. This was the culmination of 18 years of research that included the development of an inexpensive low-noise receiver and investigations of rain attenuation in the 12 GHz band. RRL, NASDA, TSCJ, Toshiba Corporation, General Electric Company, and NASA
participated with NHK to make satellite broadcasting to the home a practical reality. Among the many current strands of research is Super Hi- Vision, the implementation of high resolution broadcasting which offers a screen resolution 16 times greater than HD, together with 22.2 channel immersive surround sound. NHK STRL engineers are
NHK’s research teams’ great achievements include Super Hi-Vision
Sunday morning with Samsung
working on the complete chain, from high resolution high speed CMOS cameras through recording and transmission equipment to screens and projection displays.
A launch date of 2020 in Japan once seemed pie in the sky but increasingly seems just the start of UltraHDTV, the world’s successor broadcasting format to HD.
The lab is also addressing the second screen, helping a consortium of broadcasters launch an experimental service, Hybridcast, which synchronises content on a tablet with the programme on television. Amazingly, STRL is already studying systems beyond SHV including Integral 3D TV which use an array of miniature lenses for shooting and display to produce autostereoscopic pictures regardless of the viewer’s position. At the same time, it is researching electronic
holography systems which use a spatial light modulator consisting of arrays of miniature optical pixels of controllable light to deliver unprecedented high resolutions. Given NHK’s track record in turning science-fiction into reality several decades in advance there is every reason to watch this space with interest.
The institute says it has
already established the basic operations including a still 3D image display and is now working on the moving 3D holographic images themselves. “The contribution to
broadcasting technology made by NHK cannot be underestimated,” said Peter Owen, Chair of the IBC Council which is the body responsible for making the award. “Their work has always been revolutionary, but equally important NHK has been generous with its efforts, collaborating with international bodies like the ITU, ABU and SMPTE, along with its contribution to global standards like MPEG.
“Our industry is exciting and fascinating because it brings together creative talents with technological visionaries, and each side needs the other to spark new ideas,” Owen added. “This is the right time to recognise the many ways that NHK STRL has enabled better broadcasting and ultimately continued to delight consumers.” The IBC2012 International Honour for Excellence will be presented during the Awards Ceremony, at 18:30, 9 September and open to all IBC attendees.
David Eun, EVP/Global Media & Advisor to the CEO
Conference Keynote By Chris Forrester
Samsung is one of South Korea’s two giant power- house electronic companies, and one of the nation’s ‘chaebol’ conglomerates – responsible for some 20% of South Korea’s exports. IBC’s Sunday morning keynote welcomes Samsung’s EVP/Global Media and advisor to the CEO, David Eun (11.00-12.00 Forum), which promises to be a unique opportunity to hear Samsung’s thinking on a wide range of key industry topics, not least Samsung’s attitude to Content.
Eun will address Samsung’s philosophy overall, how it is totally export-led in its electronics output and how it has heavily invested in the latest TV technologies whether in silicon-chip production, computing, telephony and – of course – television. Today’s Samsung is the world’s largest producer of LCD units.
Now larger than even Sony, and much more profitable, it is more than holding its own even against such powerful names as Apple.
Last 26 December it bought out Sony from their LCD joint- venture operation, and it is widely accepted that South Korea is probably a year, or even two, ahead of Japan in the way it will mass-produce Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) screens for large- format TV sets.
But Samsung doesn’t just want to be seen as a supplier of hardware, no matter how beautifully designed or functional. It has, with its existing high-end LED range of ‘Smart’ TV sets created a wide portfolio of offerings for those users who have broadband connectivity. Thus, this Sunday session covers many of this year’s ‘hot topics’ at IBC, not least that of the Connected Home, of second screens in the home, and the supply of Over-The-Top content. It promises to be a fascinating morning.
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