Virtual Reality, 3D Videos Making Progress
8/19/2015 2:35:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — When Mark Cuban donated $5 million to Indiana University to build a state-of-the-art sports media technology center, he said it would be transformative.
He just wasn't sure what that exactly meant.
"It's like the internet or streamlining—when we first started streaming, who'd have thought we could possibly do all the things we can do?" Cuban said. "But once you get it going, you learn new things. That's what's going to happen here."
Cuban's premonition proved to become reality. In the two and a half months since the Mark Cuban Center for Technology was founded, Indiana University's technology team has been exploring the possibilities of 360 and virtual reality videos.
"It's exceeded my wildest expectations even in the short run," IU Director of Athletics Fred Glass said. "I think what distinguishes us is we actually have the product in house. We have technicians here full time that are able to custom make our product to what our needs are."
Patrick Dhaene and Brian Hulley—the two technicians Glass alluded to—showcased some of their recent projects in front of members of the media Wednesday.
Media members wearing virtual reality glasses were able to stand in between Indiana senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld and sophomore running back Devine Redding as they ran a draw out of the shotgun formation right in front of the camera.
A 360 video let the viewers watch women's soccer practice around a camera set up in the middle of the field. At one point in the video, the ball nearly hit the camera as it went flying by.
"We like what we're doing with what we've seen so far, but we're just beginning," Hulley said.
The next projects on tap are a shoot with the men's basketball and volleyball teams.
The football team has already gotten a chance to experiment with the technology in practice through a process head coach Kevin Wilson calls "flashcarding."
In the drill, players see brief clips of plays and are able to read the play as they would in practice without actually being out on the field with teammates. Cameras have the potential to be set up anywhere from next to the quarterback to beside defensive ends and even at center.
"What we're trying to do with it is create plays," Wilson said. "It's intriguing. The kids like it."
Sudfeld is already working with the technology at practice.
While wearing the virtual reality goggles, Sudfeld can view film while holding a joystick allowing him to fast forward, rewind and pause plays from his view at quarterback.
Sudfeld said the best part about the technology is being able to see other formations in real time and getting the chance to read what is coming. He added that the video will only become more helpful as the technology progresses and the videos are logged.
"I am really able to play the play without getting dressed up in pads, so that is really cool," Sudfeld said. "You just can't simulate how fast guys are coming up on you or how fast windows close. You'll get everything there is about playing quarterback except getting hit, which is also an important part of the game, but I think it is tremendous."
The Hoosiers plan to continue adding plays to the film library in the upcoming weeks. Other sports will soon be doing the same at film sessions of their own.
The technology team plans to give fans the opportunity to view some of the video in the upcoming months at gamedays or other Indiana functions. But as Cuban said, the possibilities are likely to reveal themselves over time.
"It's a phenomenal piece of equipment," Wilson said. "It's where the game is going."
