Latest news with #AnimationResearchLtd
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Virtual Eye wins 4th Sports Emmy
Winning Emmy awards never gets old, it seems. Virtual Eye, the sports division of Dunedin company Animation Research Ltd (ARL), has just won its fourth Sports Emmy award at the 46th Annual Sports Emmy Awards ceremony in New York. And Virtual Eye commercial and production executive vice-president Ben Taylor said, given the company's trajectory, there could be more in the future. It collaborated with several other technology companies around the world to provide groundbreaking cover of the 2024 PGA Tournament using drones. For that, it won the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award, beating other companies working on other large-scale sporting events, including the XXXIII Olympic Games (Immersive Audio at Scale), the NFL (StatusPro Visualizer VR Technology) and Thursday Night Football (AI Feature Latency). The award recognises the biggest leaps ahead in technical achievement in sports broadcasting. Mr Taylor said its new technology allowed golf viewers to get up above the trees and see the makeup of the course and where the ball was going — all in real time. "So, in the event, we would fly the drone up above the trees, and about three seconds after the player hits the ball, there's a predictive circle that animates where the ball's going to land. "It allows viewers to get above the trees and see around the corner of the dog leg." The technology allowed the company to "tell the whole story of the game", and it had resonated with the viewers, he said. "Although it was a very, very technical achievement, the whole thing for us is around storytelling. "And that's the reason I think it won, because what it allowed the broadcaster to do is to show all of the graphics people are used to seeing, but from a live drone. "That's never been done in golf before." None of the companies involved in the project went to the awards ceremony in New York, Mr Taylor said. The award was accepted on their behalf by representatives from the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA). "Getting one Sports Emmy is an amazing achievement. Getting our fourth — it's incredible. "Again, I think it's kind of recognition of the work that the team is doing down here, that we can stay so consistent and so relevant on the leading edge of innovation, from here in Dunedin. "I think it's a blueprint for other companies working in Dunedin, working in New Zealand and working globally. "I think that's probably the most satisfying thing about it." The team were "very proud" of the achievement, Mr Taylor said. "And I don't think we're done yet either. "The team continues to push the boundaries and I think that's why we've been recognised these four times, and why hopefully we'll be recognised again in the future as well. "Winning awards like this never gets old."
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Virtual Eye wins fourth Sports Emmy for groundbreaking tech
Winning Emmy awards never gets old, it seems. Virtual Eye, the sports division of Dunedin company Animation Research Ltd (ARL), has just won its fourth Sports Emmy award at the 46th Annual Sports Emmy Awards ceremony in New York. And Virtual Eye commercial and production executive vice-president Ben Taylor said, given the company's trajectory, there could be more in the future. It collaborated with several other technology companies around the world to provide groundbreaking cover of the 2024 PGA Tournament using drones. For that, it won the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award, beating other companies working on other large-scale sporting events, including the XXXIII Olympic Games (Immersive Audio at Scale), the NFL (StatusPro Visualizer VR Technology) and Thursday Night Football (AI Feature Latency). The award recognises the biggest leaps ahead in technical achievement in sports broadcasting. Mr Taylor said its new technology allowed golf viewers to get up above the trees and see the makeup of the course and where the ball was going — all in real time. "So, in the event, we would fly the drone up above the trees, and about three seconds after the player hits the ball, there's a predictive circle that animates where the ball's going to land. "It allows viewers to get above the trees and see around the corner of the dog leg." The technology allowed the company to "tell the whole story of the game", and it had resonated with the viewers, he said. "Although it was a very, very technical achievement, the whole thing for us is around storytelling. "And that's the reason I think it won, because what it allowed the broadcaster to do is to show all of the graphics people are used to seeing, but from a live drone. "That's never been done in golf before." None of the companies involved in the project went to the awards ceremony in New York, Mr Taylor said. The award was accepted on their behalf by representatives from the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA). "Getting one Sports Emmy is an amazing achievement. Getting our fourth — it's incredible. "Again, I think it's kind of recognition of the work that the team is doing down here, that we can stay so consistent and so relevant on the leading edge of innovation, from here in Dunedin. "I think it's a blueprint for other companies working in Dunedin, working in New Zealand and working globally. "I think that's probably the most satisfying thing about it." The team were "very proud" of the achievement, Mr Taylor said. "And I don't think we're done yet either. "The team continues to push the boundaries and I think that's why we've been recognised these four times, and why hopefully we'll be recognised again in the future as well. "Winning awards like this never gets old."
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Emmy to Animation Research
Animation Research Ltd has won its fourth Emmy Award at the 46th Annual Sports Emmy Awards ceremony in New York. The Dunedin company won the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award for its 2024 PGA Tour coverage on CBS and NBC, using drones. It was up against companies working on other large-scale sporting events, including the XXXIII Olympic Games (Immersive Audio at Scale), the NFL (StatusPro Visualizer VR Technology), and Thursday Night Football (AI Feature Latency). — APL
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Stellar Lineup Of Speakers For Porirua's BizFest
BizFest in Porirua will take place on 1 July - a day that aims to inspire, connect and share business knowledge. Run jointly by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council, BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae - Light up the Horizon celebrates the courage of those who seek new business opportunities, the wisdom of those who navigate uncertain times, and the collective resilience and strength of our people. 1 July will provide opportunities to engage in three key areas over the course of the day, with speakers, panel discussions and other kōrero: - What's on the economic horizon for our region and city - How business leaders are navigating uncertain economic conditions - Seizing opportunities during times of change and the key ingredients for innovation and success. Key speakers include Animation Research Ltd's Ben Taylor, Infometrics chief executive and principal economist Brad Olsen, and software engineer, director of Fibre Fale, Young New Zealander of the year and Porirua's own Eteroa Lafaele. More will be announced soon. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Pou Ohanga Boyd Scirkovich will open BizFest with an overview of the first Economic Development and Investment Strategy for the Rūnanga. "We are excited to partner with the Council to bring BizFest to our whānau and community," he says. "The event is an opportunity to shine a light on local businesses doing amazing things. We are surrounded by abundant potential here in Porirua and have unique talents within our diverse communities that thrive on the global stage. We hope Bizfest provides the opportunity for people to come together to support each other and explore new areas of collaboration." Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, who has a background in business, says the event offers plenty to Porirua employers, business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, new and established businesspeople, and anyone wanting to be inspired. "This will be an amazing day - what a fantastic opportunity for the business sector, which has experienced challenging times of late, to listen, share and connect," she says. "Porirua is a place to do business and that's highlighted by large and medium-sized businesses establishing themselves here recently, along with our small traders that keep our city humming. Our city is always moving forward and I'm excited about BizFest showing off what we have now, what's coming, and the innovation we're seeing."
