White Plains, New York—Sep 23, 2005
All-Day Forum on Digital Cinema Kicks Off SMPTE Conference
Under the programming guidance of renowned technology expert Larry Thorpe, SMPTE
has just wrapped up its program and presentation selection for the SMPTE
Technical Conference and Exhibition scheduled for Nov 9th through 12th, 2005 in
New York City. This highly anticipated event will start with a full-day forum on
Digital Cinema. In light of the accelerating advances in technologies and
standardization related to Digital Cinema, SMPTE believes its Technical
Conference this November is an ideal time to report to the conference attendees
on the present status of this exciting and now fast-paced industry movement. The
ensuing three days conference will encompass some twelve separate sessions that
focus on a broad range of technologies and infrastructures relating to the
creation and management of digital content.
The Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) consortium has reached a major milestone
with the finalization of their specification in mid-2005. This substantive
document reflects the consensus of the major studios on all that should
constitute an end-to-end digital cinema system, as well as their detailed
technical specifications and recommendations relating to all of the primary
elements that constitute the total system. Because of the importance of this
achievement SMPTE has asked representatives from DCI to conduct a detailed
tutorial explaining the core sections of their specification. The morning
session of the All-Day Seminar will be dedicated to this technical seminar.
The afternoon session will be conducted by SMPTE and will broaden the
exploration of works in progress relating to digital cinema. This session will
encompass some in-depth technical tutorials on technologies central to a digital
cinema system. In particular, an update of the JPEG 2000 compression algorithm,
color management system, and security systems will be included. Representatives
from National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) will outline their present
thinking on a rollout model for digital cinema. SMPTE will provide the latest
overview on the current status of standardization activities within their
various DC-28 Working Groups on Digital Cinema.
The following three days of the conference (Nov 10th through 12th) will
highlight recent developments in both digital Standard Definition and High
Definition Television. A special focus on content creation will examine new
products and systems for HDTV Newsgathering, Small Format HDV Acquisition, Large
Sensor digital motion imaging, and recent advances in Motion Picture Film
technologies. Other sessions will focus on areas of digital infrastructure
including digital Storage systems, digital Sound for Broadcast and Cinema, Media
Infrastructure (like MXF, GXF, and AAF) and IP-based Broadcast plant. There will
also be sessions on Content Consumption and Protection and the latest in Display
Technology (with particular emphasis on Fixed Pixel Displays).
“The Conference and Exhibition is one individuals can turn to for a deeper
understanding of the many new technologies that are presently changing the way
the industry does things,” says Thorpe, “and if you’re not on board now, what
will happen when these new technologies are required by competitive marketplace
dynamics, consumer trends and demands, or even government?” Thorpe is generally
considered to be one of the leaders of the HDTV movement. His impressive list of
accomplishments include pioneering HDTV market development in the United States,
and holding ten patents in the field of broadcast development.
One of SMPTE’s salient missions is to disseminate information about the latest
in motion imaging technology. Though not purely academic or hypothetical, the
SMPTE conference is geared to presenting solid technological information to
attendees and to fostering vigorous information exchange among them. Peter Ludé,
SMPTE Editorial Vice-President, explains. "When we hear that an attendee has
learned something at the SMPTE Conference, and successfully implemented what
they’ve learned at their own organization, we’re delighted. Their success is our
success."
In addition to the educational side of the conference, a full exhibit hall with
a host of companies, both big and small, will be demonstrating their wares in
the SMPTE Exhibit, which runs the first three days of the conference. “The SMPTE
Exhibit brings an even greater authority to this technical event, by flanking
the discussions in the session rooms on the technologies of tomorrow, with a
broad range of contemporary, real, and successful applications in the Exhibition
Hall,” says SMPTE Conference Vice-President Ken Fuller.
SMPTE meetings and social events are planned for the conference, affording
attendees, exhibitors, and guest speakers to network and converse. These include
the conference’s opening night Welcome Bash, SMPTE’s Fellows Luncheon for
members of the Society who have been inducted as Fellows, and the Honors and
Awards Reception, where SMPTE annually lauds those in both the Society and the
industry who have contributed greatly to the advancement of motion imaging.
For more information about SMPTE’s Technical Conference and Exhibition, please
see their website at www.smpte.org.