Super High Definition video streamed around the world

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 20 November 2008 06:12

Business IT - Networking

"Without having the need for data compression, high quality images can be maintained and then viewed using an inexpensively built OptIPortal display instead of using 4K projectors that can cost more than $100,000," added Hancock.

An OptIPortal is a 'video wall' created from multiple displays (typically 24 in or 30 in LCD panels) driven by computers running purpose-built software that coordinates the display of high-resolution images across multiple screens. Each computer typically controls one or two displays.

Professor Bernard Pailthorpe, CEO of QCIF said, "OptIPortals are the next step in display and visualisation technology for supercomputers and large data. They enable a new type of remote and collaborative working, and further shrink the distances to Australia."

The University of Queensland OptIPortal has a 5 by 4 array of 24in screens giving an overall resolution of 7680 x 6000 pixels. Five Dell Precision T3400 systems each drive four of the screens via dual nVidia graphics cards.

One of the largest OptiPortals is the University of California Irvine's HIPerWall, which uses 50 Apple 30in Cinema Displays driven by 25 PowerMac G5s, delivering 25,600 by 8000 pixels.

It may be some time before we can afford a 40G Internet connection like this lucky Swedish woman, but when it does arrive technology like 4K may bring a whole new meaning to home cinema.

And the way projector and panel prices are falling, anyone that can afford a sufficiently fast connection will likely also be able to afford the necessary displays.