The Technology
Multi-second delays are common in communication between reporters in the field and the studio. The result is two problems: 1) the interaction is very annoying to the viewer, with (typically) 3-5 second waiting time between the end of a question and the beginning of the answer (in the meantime, the waiting parties look strange if on TV and are simply silent if on the radio); 2) if both parties are shown concurrently on the screen, and one reacts (e.g., face impression) to things being said or shown by the other, there is a time offset so the appearance is not synchronized. Presently, one simply sees the gap. Reporters are sometimes taught to constantly nod their heads as if they are reacting to what is being said in the studio (though they have yet to hear it), but this looks very strange. The developed technology employs largely existing technology building blocks, most notable speed changing of video and pitch-retaining speed changing of audio.
Advantages
- Novel, straightforward solution for communication delays in live broadcast
Applications and opportunities
- Any television and/or radio station settings in which conversations are carried out
- A product can be a stand-alone “box” that receives as input at least two signal feeds and produces as output at least one. It can be implemented as a “bump in the wire”, i.e., without altering any existing equipment or signal flow. Alternatively, it can be embedded along with other functions in studio equipment
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