NBA fans are going to continue to see 360 degree replay tech during the NBA Conference Finals and The Finals thanks to Intel who will continue to its recently acquired Replay Technologies, an Israeli startup that created the, “freeD” technology or 360-degree video technology. Together they capture video from all angles using a high definition camera and using the Intel server the video is stitched together creating 3D views of the video. This allows the video to be rotated, stopped and started, and manipulated by the user.
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This replay tech is currently being used during all the Conference Final games and will be used at The Finals. Fans are able to view the 360 replays on the NBA App, NBA.com, or on various social media platforms.
Feel like you're courtside at the #NBAPlayoffs with #Intel 360 replay technology. pic.twitter.com/e9UWWs7hvz
— Intel (@intel) May 23, 2016
The technology was first used during the 2012 Olympic games, and NBA fans were first exposed to it during NBA All Star Weekend in 2014. The technology has been used every All Star Weekend since. At the All Star Weekend this last February, there were 28 HD cameras used in the Air Canada Centre to create the 360-degree shot. The technology has improved a lot since its use in the 2014 games, with the picture being more clear and more available for viewers then.
Congrats to my portfolio company Free-D on your @intel acquisition and growing from our Mavs experience to the conference finals and more !
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) May 15, 2016
One of the main reasons for use of the technology is for the fan experience. The 360- degree view allows fans at home to see each call and play up close, allowing for the some of the same angles that the refs and media get on the sidelines. Brain Krzanich, Intel CEO said at the CES tech conference last year, “What you are seeing here is the power to redefine what it means to watch and experience sports. Viewers can re-watch any moment in the game while also being able to cut their own clip from the re-play and post it to social media.”
The technology now reaches beyond the NBA and sports as it is being used at other events like rally’s for politicians, and in virtual reality. Preston Phillips, vice president of marketing and communications for Replay Technologies said, “Eventually, perhaps sooner than we think, we will live in a world where video is complete 3D representation of reality, merging existing concepts of entertainment.” He hopes this will include 3D movie theaters, create more interactive games, VR technology and possibly classes, whether that is a workout class you can do at home, or bringing a classroom in the US to a different part of the world.