Requesting "Full-field" Match Video for Webcasts from FIRST

[cbale2000]

This idea was brought up in another thread, but I think it would be great to have a "Frame-in-Frame" view, where you can see the entire field all the time, but in one corner you had a spot for the close up shots and the sponsor slides between matches (or vice-versa).
Granted the suggestions of making sure the camera people actually know what to watch is good too, but you'll always have someone who wants to see one part of the match in full field and someone else who wants a closeup, so why not have both?

For that matter, what would be REALLY nice is to have direct output feeds for each camera (not necessarily for the webcasts) in addition to the current output, it would allow teams to choose what views they want to record, and if they choose to record multiple views, would allow them to edit the different views together later for use in promos, match records, or use on sites like TBA.

[Zach O]

That is how matches should be webcasted. Full field, so you can see what's going on. Not randomly zooming into the ball return, when I really want to see the robots.

I'm with you all the way!

[kgzak]

It get's really annoying when I am at home watching a webcast on my TV and people come over who could be possible new mentors, students, or even start teams and they start watching the webcast but can't follow it with all the close ups. I have had friends watch webcasts and they can't follow so they stop watching. My aunt wanted video of our robot to show her class (she is teacher at a school in toledo ohio) which could spark interest in starting a new team but I couldn't find any where they could follow and enjoy. You can bring everyone to an event so at least supply another way of showing off FIRST.

So yeah add me:
Kris Zakfeld
Team 2075

and you can add this to your letter if you want, feel free to rephrase too.

[nikeairmancurry]

add me

Nicholas Curry
Mentor, Team 326

[Jonathan Norris]

I actually think a full field view would be worse for a webcast, the resolution isn't really there for it to be any better. Imagine a ustream webcast of a full field view, I would have no idea who was playing... The real solution is the camera people need to be trained better and not zoom in on the wheels of robots on Einstein. At GTR this year the video production people set up to stationary cameras to cover each side of the field, I personally felt this worked really well and gave a good overall view on what was happening. This is mainly because its been the same people running the video production for at least 5+ years. The main issue is that we need video production people who understand what is the best way to record a FIRST match, and I certainly don't think a full field view is the best way.

[thefro526]

This is an excellent idea! Please add my name to the list:

Dustin Benedict
Mentor FRC 816

[synth3tk]

I don't think one dedicated full-field static camera is the solution. I don't think a full-field static camera along-side the camera operators just for the webcast is a good idea either. It will get boring. If you're trying to get people excited about FIRST, looking at a field over some crappy uStream webcast is not a very good motivator.

I'd like to "ditto" the people in this thread who said we should have FIRST focus on training the camera operators better. I mentioned in another thread that maybe the operators should attend a previous week's event. Or if that's not possible, make it mandatory for them to watch some of the Thursday matches in the stands, to get a feel for the game.

The picture-in-picture suggestion is also a really good one, though we'd come back full-circle to the fact that we're trying to webcast this. Unless you were using a really good compressed codec, a fair amount of bandwidth (let's say 1Mb upload or faster), and were using anything other than uStream, then you'll run into the issue where you can't see the smaller picture.

I don't mind seeing the drive teams during a technical break or before a match, but watching Championships got really frustrating when the crowd and announcer would go wild over a double-hang, and all I could see was a robot stuck in a corner trying to score the same ball for the last 30 seconds. Yes, every robot is special and deserves air-time, but learn when to focus on certain 'bots.

[CN-U-NEFCU?]

sounds good

[O'Sancheski]

Put me on

Joe Sanchez
Team 571

[Akash Rastogi]

Akash Rastogi
Team 11

[keneajer]

I do agree with some of these points from be a spector and from my degree sandpoint, that i'm good into. i miss when they had two cameras and one camera would get a wide shot and the other would get close-up and medium close -up of the robot doing. i do agree that they do need a wide shot of the field, but do you find your robot that is on the field at the same time?

[TheNotoriousLB]

Loren Burr of Team 70 totally agrees with this idea. It would be really convenient for reviewing matches from past competitions.

[Racer26]

Good way to get lots of people involved in FIRST: Convince your local TV Stations to broadcast FIRST events on TV.

[Deep Dark]

I'm in.

Dave Woods
Team 2506