Video compression company Ateme and immersive telepresence specialists Focal Point VR have developed the first-ever live 8K 3D streaming workflow for Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
The new system uses Focal Point VR’s quad 3D 8K panoramic camera setup alongside Ateme’s TITAN encoder to stream high-resolution stereoscopic video in real time, using Apple’s MV-HEVC format.
This allows for a level of detail and depth that was previously only possible with pre-recorded content.
The move could have implications for live sports, concerts, and other immersive broadcasts, as streaming in such high fidelity brings these events closer to a real-life experience. While Apple has offered some immersive sports content before, it has so far been limited to pre-recorded footage.
Ateme’s CTO, Mickael Raulet, described the development as a “game-changer” for immersive live streaming, while Focal Point VR CEO Jonathan Newth called it a “pivotal moment” for the industry.
The announcement also comes as the industry grapples with the relevance of 8K technology. While 8K televisions have struggled to gain mainstream traction, the high resolution is more useful in VR applications, where image clarity is crucial to realism.
It remains to be seen how widely this technology will be adopted, but the ability to stream live events in 8K 3D could be a major step forward for the immersive media space.
