I am an AOP Award winning and APA Award nominated journalist with over ten years' experience writing and editing both online and in print for some of the world's best-selling magazines and national newspapers.
A new 5G innovation from EE and BT, called 5G Edge-XR, combines real-world live events with overlaid digital graphical information using augmented reality. All that means you will no longer need to pick between the thrill of live events and the data rich experience of TV viewing – as this combines the two.
The 5G Edge-XR platform has been developed by a collaboration between EE and BT which allows event goers to hold up their smartphones to overlay live data on the real-world event, and more. But how does that look?
In the case of rugby, for example, that will mean sports fans can enjoy being at the game with the atmosphere of live rugby but without missing out on key stats. Hold up the phone to see the kicker's ball trajectory, view player stats overlaid on them, view alternative camera angles and more.
This applies to a host of events, but also for at home use, with holographic boxers as if you were watching them right there in front of you, MotoGP races viewed with an at-scale circuit map or by jumping between camera angles, and football viewed in 360-degrees using 8K multi-camera feeds. Or, in the case of the arts; a musician, dancer or actor can appear in live classes as a hologram as if really there with the viewer.
This uses smartphones, tablets and TVs as well as augmented reality headsets to work. These can be used either at an event to overlay information, or at home to bring the holographic character into the room as if really there.
The 5G Edge-XR system is backed by The Department of Digital Culture, Media and Sports, The Grid Factory, The University of Bristol, DanceEast, Salsa Sound and Condense Reality.
Lisa Perkins, Research Realisation Director, BT, said: "Our work at Adastral Park alongside world-class innovators including BT Sport and our 5G Edge-XR partners demonstrates how EE’s 5G network can support services that deliver uncompromised audio and visuals. We’re excited to be unveiling experiences that could transform sports, culture, and the arts as well as demonstrating the benefits 5G can bring to people and businesses."
The first reveal happened at Saracens rugby club but more experiences are being developed for BT Sport, due to arrive "in the future".
Ofcom’s next 5G spectrum auction could finally deliver on 5G’s full potential
Ofcom has laid out its plans for the auctioning of 26GHz and 40GHz mmWave 5G spectrum.
As seen on:
