Tags: Mass Media and Communications, Software Solutions, Technology Industry
By Alexander Villafania
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA — Which matters more? Expensive, high-tech presentation features in television or quality reporting? False publicity and marketing or content? Form or function?
In the broadcast business, one-upmanship is the name of the game and during the May 10 elections, two of the biggest television networks in the country showcased their own interpretations of virtual reality.
On election day, GMA-7 showed off its so-called “hologram” interview feature, wherein the anchor in the newsroom seemed to be interacting with what appeared to be a rendered three-dimensional holographic image of an interviewee in a different location.
GMA-7′s so-called “hologram” is actually composed of a chroma setup, which uses a green backdrop where background images would be rendered via computer.
GMA-7 explained how it did its hologram setup in a report last May 12, citing a similar technology used by cable news company CNN during its own election coverage. They also employed Vizrt, the same provider from CNN.
ABS-CBN was already using a “virtual presence” technology quite similar to that of GMA-7. However, the camera they used was able to pan around the person in the remote location.
Last May 12, ABS-CBN reporter TJ Manotoc aired a report on the differences between his network’s virtual presence and GMA-7′s so-called “hologram.” He interviewed two representatives of Orad Hi Tec Systems who said they would not call GMA-7′s technology a hologram.
Still, the use of holograms and virtual presence were both panned and praised by many online. DJ Mo Twister ranted at the misuse of the term “hologram” by GMA-7. Aaron Tadeo in Associated Content said GMA-7 was misleading people to believe that it was a hologram, explaining that a hologram should be real 3D projects instead of superimposing images.
While not being criticized for the misuse of the term “hologram,” ABS-CBN was also criticized for the bad image quality of virtual presence technology, which fared less than the image quality produced by GMA-7′s inappropriately termed “hologram.”
Others also said ABS-CBN was just being “insecure” because their coverage of the May 10 polls was less effective than that of GMA-7. In PinoyExchange, a forum member named “razzer rising” said that ABS-CBN was only targeting GMA-7 because of its bias toward one of the presidential candidates. However, another member named “mhie-mhie” debunked “razzer rising” by highlighting a combined evaluation of at least three media monitoring companies, showing that ABS-CBN was indeed the least biased.
Commenters in the blog ITPinoy said they identified the use of chroma keying by GMA-7. Although the image produced was still better than ABS-CBN, the use of the so-called “hologram” was what made them think if GMA-7 executives knew what they were talking about.
Blogger Abe Olandres said the holograms are rather “augmented reality,” a higher stated of virtual reality that blurs the line between what’s real and what’s computer generated.
Much of the commercial augmented reality products are in video games. In recent years, they have also been used in toys such as baseball card games as well as the card games in James Cameron’s 2009 hit “Avatar.” Another video demonstrated how augmented card games are also used.
Regardless of what visual effects the networks use in their reporting, what matters is how much of that actually translates to better reporting and enhanced experience for their viewers. Hopefully, they don’t have to wave their high-tech gadgetry to get people’s attention.
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Buti nga sa GMA NABUKING DIN NMN CLA!!!…,ANO YUNG SINASABI NILA NA KATULAD YUNG KANILA NG SA CNN…EH SA TV SCREEN LANG NMN NAKIKITA ANG HOLOGRAM EFFECT NILA!!!…,,,SA ABS CBN TOTOONG NAKIKITA SA STUDIO ANG VIRTUAL PRESENCE.,,,,,UMAMIN DIN NMN ANG GMA NA HOLOGRAM EFFECT LANG CLA….HAHAHA MAPAGMALAKI KC!!!…WALA NMN CLANG LABAN SA ABS CBN TOUCHSCREEN PA LANG AT NAPAKA LAKING WAR ROOM!!!
actually gma used the word hologram but then they said it’s just a hologram like not really hologram. there should be no war about this, even if gma used the word hologram people should know that they are only referring to the technology in star wars. bakit ba sumikat yung hologram na word eh dibah dalhil dun and there is no exact definition kung ano talaga yung hologram, that is just a word created based on fiction.