Introduction

The goal of the iview project is to develop a free-viewpoint system that allows the capture and interactive replay of live events using multiple cameras. The technology uses multi-camera images as an input and is based on algorithms for 3D reconstruction, texture mapping and view-synthesis at interactive refresh rates. Although the techniques could be used for many applications, a sport scenario will be used to demonstrate these techniques.

Two results are expected to be demonstrated at the end of the project: An interactive system for broadcast of live events that can be exploited for sports production, and a demonstrator to show how the techniques developed can be used on an interactive consumer platform (like a games console) in the longer term. Both demonstrators will allow the free choice of viewpoint, like a fly around.

The iview project is funded by the DTI Technology Programme. It started at end of 2005 and will run for three years.