Serious Simulations had to get real.
Serious Simulations builds ambitious training systems for a range of uses, helping professionals do their jobs and save lives. Offering mixed reality, their systems combine cutting-edge hardware and software with virtual reality, real-world props, and real-time motion capture.
The systems are among the most advanced in the world, but in the realm of simulation and training, where realism and immersion matter most to success, customers were demanding more than was previously available.
And there Serious Simulations had a problem. They needed to push their cutting-edge systems even further, introducing entirely believable characters and scenes that precisely replicated dramatic real world situations. So they turned to IKinema.
IKinema is a leading inverse kinematics company with a wealth of games and movie industry experience, and a heritage in space exploration. And they knew just what to do to help Serious Simulations - and the wider simulation space.
Here, IKinema's CEO explains what his company offered Serious Simulations, and what the potential is for others in the sector.
What was the challenge Serious Simulations was facing with its mixed reality simulations, in terms of IKinema's relevance?
The problem they had was one of offering users convincing characters and movement, which was undermining a given simulation's capacity to convince the user. As a tool training a user to handle real world situations, a simulation must be utterly convincing to be credible.
IKinema provided ways to make the simulations and their characters more convincing, and improved the motion capture of participants in the real world, so as to better represent them in the mixed reality simulation. We also offered ways to blend the participant and their in-simulation avatar, again making the training more immersive and convincing.
In a simulation the real-world participant needs to exist in the virtual world as if they are really taking part. Serious Simulations needed to make a tremendous leap forward in the realism of their simulations, without compromising the technology already in their mixed reality systems. IKinema made that possible.
What did IKinema do practically for Serious Simulations' training systems?
Through real-time capture and solving technologies, we transformed the way characters looked and moved, turning stiff, awkward animations into fluid full-body motion.
The difference was substantial, and participants experienced in simulation systems reported a significant leap forward in realism. We could bring our experience from interactive media entertainment, and our work with motion capture hardware companies like Vicon. That has given us a lot of experience in bringing real-time subjects to virtual settings, and this gave Serious Simulations an opportunity to take the same realism to their simulations.
Why was IKinema's technology the right kind of tool for improving Serious Simulations' offering in this way?
Fundamentally it comes down to the fact we could offer solving across the whole body for this very distinct kind of avatar, by providing a generic full-body engine. We could also offer the ability to better represent the motion of the avatar based on the limited data available in the motion capture volume. It was the quality and versatility of our LiveAction technology that could provide this.
Why is animation especially important for Serious Simulations' training systems? Virtual reality environments for training and simulation need to capture the real world as closely as possible. Not only do the lighting and rendering need to be right, but the animation has to be organic and natural to achieve a fully immersive experience.
IKinema has helped movie houses to get a high degree of realism in animation in their blockbusters, and now this expertise is exploited by Serious Simulations in bringing a unique user experience in the virtual world during training and simulation.
Will we see more of this kind of collaboration between simulation and gaming companies going forward?
The serious gaming and simulation space is catching up with media entertainment such as film and games with speed, and already they are demanding the same standards expected in the movie and video games industry. The demand for quality, realism and accuracy in simulation is vitally important, and simulation companies are now looking to the best they can take from media entertainment. That is why they came to IKinema, and I believe this is a trend we will see more from. We believe there are more opportunities for us to contribute to the technology provided by gaming companies, and we are open to more partnerships. We are helping move the simulation space forward by offering a unique solution to making immersive virtual worlds that precisely recreate the real world.
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
Serious Simulations had to get real. 
