Singular Browser-Based Graphics Free for Schools to Encourage Next-Gen Professionals

Singular Browser-Based Graphics Free for Schools to Encourage Next-Gen Professionals By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director

Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - 3:07 pm

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Creating the next generation of sports production professionals is on everyone's mind and Singular, the browser-based broadcast graphics platform is doing its part by being free to schools, both public and private, from elementary to higher education.

Students at Westboro Elementary in Canada uses Singular to add graphics to live video newscast-style announcements.

Mike Ward, managing director, EMEA for Reality Check Systems, says the nature of the platform allowed for the effort as it doesn't require dedicated or specialist hardware or indeed anything that an average school wouldn't already have.

And because it has a full authoring environment it can be used by design students while, as a digital platform, it can also give programmers and coders an opportunity to dig deep into APIs and SDKs which we provide open access to, he says. As a live graphic overlay platform it also fits perfectly into any schools wanting to train students about live production including producers, directors and, of course, graphics ops.

Singular allows the user to add live graphic overlays onto their content using only a web browser. It has a full authoring environment for building custom overlays but also dozens of pre-built overlays that any users can download and use for free. Schools can quickly and easily learn how to use Singular from any computer with an internet connection and they can design, build, operate and stream graphics from their web browser. At it's core, Singular is an HTML rendering platform that can be used for any kind of visualization.

The other motivation, he says, is that because Singular can work in traditional HD SDI workflows as well as NDI and IP/Streaming workflows it provides a broader opportunity for learning both traditional, modern and future production workflows and techniques.

Our own experiences in finding and hiring new talent in our industry shows us that without investment and support in this area, there is a lack of skills being taught and opportunities for people to learn, he adds. We also know that modern and future talent need a wider skillset than before because people are creating and consuming content in totally new and different ways.

Singular is built to service traditional HD SDI workflows, but also next-gen workflows using NDI and IP/Streaming as well as client or device side rendering. This sees the graphics rendered by the user's device which opens up interactivity, localization and personalization options. Finally, Singular is also ready for emerging workflows with On Demand Overlays.

Put simply, any content published with Singular overlays can have those graphic overlays remain live' meaning they can be updated at any time, even after the video has been published, says Ward. Not only does that mean that you can correct any mistakes but it also means that if you update the look and feel of your on air graphics you can apply that new look to all your archive content that used Singular as well. This can also enable commercial teams to sell sponsorship not just of future content but also archive content that we all know in many cases has a long tail.

Frances Page, Singular, Strategic Partnerships, says usage at schools to date has ranged from simple title graphics for live streams of Halloween costume parades to adding interactive features to vocational training.

The schools can extend the quality of their reach so families on the other side of the world can watch their grandkids perform in a speech competition.

One innovative elementary school in Alberta, Canada, has a broadcast club which meets at recess to create a daily news show featuring things such as birthday announcements, weather, and the lunch menu, she says. The fourth and fifth graders run the show with the younger ones as the news anchors. They also plan to use Singular for science projects such as streaming eggs hatching.

Schools from Malaysia to Miami, Wales to New Zealand have signed up to date.

We want to support the next generation of digital content creators by making sure they have complete full access to our platform to help them maximize their content and perhaps even introduce them to a future career path, says Andrew Heimbold, Singular, CEO. Our own experience in finding and hiring new talent shows us that there are a lack of skills and opportunities for people to learn. We know that the future of our industry needs a wider skillset than before because people are creating and consuming content in totally new and different ways.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/11/05/171756/...
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