Fribourg company plays it again with a difference

A company in Fribourg - InMotion Technologies - has announced it is to supply unique special effect applications for the Sydney Olympics to be used by ZDF, the main German television broadcaster.

The company will supply VideoFinish broadcast images which will enable viewers to compare two or more competitors in a sports event simultaneously. It is the first time the application will be used at an Olympic event.

“These innovative special effects will heighten the action at the games,” said Stefan Kurten, ZDF team leader. “With an event as important as this, VideoFinish is excellent for illustrating the differences between athletes’ performances,” he added.

During the Sydney Olympics, television viewers will be able to watch an application that differs from the traditional approach where the two competitors are shown on split screens. Instead, both athletes are seen together in the same picture, apparently competing at the same place at the same time.

The process makes it easy to spot technique and trajectory differences, while adding new elements of competition.

“We are very glad to be associated with one of the major European broadcasters for the event of the year,” said Victor Bergonzoli, broadcast and Internet director of InMotion Technologies.

VideoFinish was created and developed at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. InMotion Technologies was founded in December 1998 to develop VideoFinish commercially, as well as other digital image applications.

The broadcast application was produced in conjunction with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation – SRG SSR idée suisse.

A variety of interactive Internet applications has been developed and can be experienced at the address below.

by Robert Brookes