There was no doubt, at NAB 2009, that the most exciting demonstrations were from Japan. NHK (the national broadcaster) and the NICT (a national research institute in Japan) offered a wonderland of new media technology in a large demonstration area, which helped to lift the shadow of economics.
The highlights included a stereoscopic large screen TV presentation of material shot by the Kayuga satellite passing over the moon, of an 'earthrise' on the moon. Seeing this really brings a sense of proportion to our planetary worries. The moon appears to be just a large hunk of rock in space, and the earth warm and inviting.
 | "Integral TV"
NHK also demonstrated an early version of a future more elaborate 3D system without glasses, which offers a picture with some characteristics of a hologram - 'integral TV' (see photo). A SHV camera (32 Mega pixels) is used which has a large array of cylindrical lenses (140 by 120), recording an approximation of an 'object wave'. The display reverses the taking process. The results were interesting, but still low resolution.
Once more NHK offered more than specular pictures in Super High Vision. In this set were included many shots taken from above, looking down on the action. SHV has horizontal and vertical surround sound, so the sound location all over the face of the screen could be done with the vertical surround dimension. |
3D Sound System
| The NICT offered a range of new systems, including 4 thousand line material played off a normal PC, a fascinating device which would allow the viewer to 'blow up' any part of the screen he liked. There was also (the author's personal favourite) a home '3D sound system'. The photo shows that the sound is provided by 'mushrooms' each with about 25 sound channels and small speakers on their surfaces. These mushrooms are strategically placed in a room, and can be heard well from all directions. The result is that you really feel you are 'walking among the musicians' when you hear music. A fascinating experience, but probably a little too much for our clumsy family. |  |