FTV (Free Viewpoint Television) for 3D Scene Reproduction and Creation

Abstract

We have been developing ray-based 3D information systems that consist of ray acquisition, ray processing and ray display. FTV (Free viewpoint TV) based on the ray-space method is a typical example. FTV captures all visual information of 3D scenes at video frame rates. Captured information is processed in the ray-space for 3D scene reproduction and creation. We proposed the concept of FTV and verified its feasibility by the world's first real-time system. The FTV Committee was organized to promote FTV standardization and application in JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association) under the support of METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). About 20 organizations including industries, carriers, broadcasters, content providers and so on participate this activity. As an ultimate 3D TV, FTV needs higher performance for all related devices, equipments and systems, and accelerates the development of electronic industry. As the next-generation TV, it opens new applications in the fields of communication, entertainment, advertising, education, medicine, art, archives and so on. As information infrastructure for secure society, it increases security of public facilities, roads, vehicles, schools, factories and so on.