USC's super HDTV would tap Internet speed upgrades

Eric A. Taub's article, "On Internet of the Future, Surfers May Almost Feel the Spray" , in today's Circuits section of the N.Y. Times, describes a University of Southern California project called Remote Media Immersion. (Link needs a free username and password.) The researchers say the system could provide high-quality HDTV programming on demand.


The prototype HDTV system uses a 9-by-5-foot HDTV screen, but full-bandwidth HDTV at 1.5 billion bits per second is compressed to 45 million bits per second (Mbps) instead of current broadcast HDTV's 19.29 Mbps (~17 for active video). To capture audio, 16 mikes are used and processed to 12 audio tracks. Twelve loudspeakers can be used, or only six with virtual-surround techniques. The researchers said 60-Mbps Internet speeds are needed, requiring higher-bandwidth lines than most links today. -- John