CyanView
Remote access to live action
November 18, 2019
The Cy-Stem developed with support from EKTOS gives vision engineers full remote control of cameras
We want to feel ever closer to the action when we watch TV. Creating that feeling of being fully immersed in the center of action, however, poses a technical challenge for producers of live-broadcasted TV-shows, concerts, and sports events.
The challenge has been taken up by the Belgian company CyanView. They have developed a universal camera control system that easily integrates with specialty cameras – e.g. mounted on sports cars or carried by participants in a reality TV-show. The Cy-Stem developed by CyanView improves and simplifies the workflow during TV-productions and gives vision engineers full control of all camera features in live-broadcasting via remote access.
EKTOS has assisted CyanView in developing a remote control panel, Cy-RCP, which is compatible with any number and types of cameras. EKTOS furthermore assisted in developing a control unit, Cy-CI0, which is a generic PoE camera interface module.
Complementing skills
David Bourgeois, founder and CEO at CyanView, has a background within electronics engineering and he has been closely involved in the electronics design as well as the software development, the latter which CyanView has handled entirely in-house.
”We could develop a solution ourselves, but EKTOS knows how to develop for production and can therefore develop a real product that can be produced and that can function reliably in the field. The team’s knowledge of software has proven to be a major asset as well. The architecture is based on micro controllers so a lot of features are placed in the software, but they could, as well, be placed in the hardware. By understanding what is possible to do with software, you can simplify the hardware design. It’s been very easy to explain to the team what I need, and that was very important to us. With EKTOS communication has been very quick and efficient”
It’s been very easy to explain to the team what I need, and that was very important to us. With EKTOS communication has been very quick and efficient – David Bourgeois, founder and CEO at CyanView
An hour based contract
Like many others, David Bourgeois felt the leap of faith when signing an hour based contract with external suppliers, “We started out our collaboration in a small scale to test the level of quality of the design by EKTOS. Now I completely trust the design team. I know that the team will work on the tasks with the best interest in mind. To me it has been exactly the same if I had had the team internally. I knew, that if the team chose to spend an extra week on something it was because it was necessary.
I know that the team will work on the tasks with the best interest in mind. To me it has been exactly the same if I had had the team internally – David Bourgeois, founder and CEO at CyanView
CyanView’s Cy-Stem Universal Camera Control System was nominated for NAB 2019 Product Of The Year Award. They will continue to improve the functionality and level of integration with cameras. Read more about CyanView and they solutions here.
Cy-Stem, udviklet med støtte fra EKTOS, giver vision engineers fuld kontrol over kameraer via WiFi
At give publikum følelsen af at være med lige dér, hvor det sker, efterstræbes i tv-produktioner i dag. At skabe den følelse er dog en teknisk udfordring for producenter af live-udsendelser så som reality-tv, koncerter og sportsbegivenheder.
Det belgiske firma CyanView har taget udfordringen op. De har udviklet et universelt kamerakontrolsystem, der let kan integreres med specialkameraer – f.eks. monteret på sportsbiler eller båret af deltagere i et reality-tv-show. Cy-Stem udviklet af CyanView, forbedrer og forenkler arbejdsflowet under tv-produktioner og giver vision engineers fuld kontrol over alle kamerafunktioner i live udsendelser via fjernadgang.
EKTOS har hjulpet CyanView med at udvikle kontrolpanelet, Cy-RCP, som er kompatibelt med enhver type kamera. EKTOS har endvidere hjulpet med at udvikle en kontrolenhed, Cy-CI0, et PoE-baseret kamera-interfacemodul.
Komplimenterende viden
David Bourgeois, grundlægger og CEO af CyanView, har en baggrund inden for elektronikteknikudvikling, og han har været tæt involveret i elektronikdesign såvel som softwareudvikling, sidstnævnt har CyanView håndteret internt.
”Vi kunne selv udvikle en løsning, men EKTOS ved, hvordan man udvikler til produktion og kan derfor udvikle en rigtig god løsning, der kan produceres, og som virker pålideligt i felten. Holdets viden om software har også vist sig at være en stort fordel. Arkitekturen er baseret på mikrokontrollere, så mange funktioner er placeret i softwaren, men de kunne også placeres i hardwaren. Ved at forstå, hvad der er muligt at gøre med software, kan hardware-designet forenkles. Det var meget let at forklare holdet, hvad jeg havde brug for, hvilket var meget vigtigt for os. Med EKTOS har kommunikationen været meget hurtig og effektiv.”
Det var meget let at forklare holdet, hvad jeg havde brug for, hvilket var meget vigtigt for os. Med EKTOS har kommunikationen været meget hurtig og effektiv – David Bourgeois, grundlægger og CEO af CyanView
Tillid og timebaseret kontrakt
Det kan føles som en risiko at underskrive en timebaseret kontrakt med eksterne leverandører, og den følelse havde David Bourgeois også i begyndelsen af samarbejdet med EKTOS: “Vi begyndte i det små for at teste kvalitetsniveauet. Nu har jeg fuld tillid til udviklerne. Jeg ved, at holdet vil arbejde med opgaverne efter bedste hensigter. For mig har det været nøjagtigt det samme, som hvis jeg havde haft holdet internt. Jeg vidste, at hvis holdet valgte at bruge en ekstra uge på noget, var det fordi det var nødvendigt.”
Jeg ved, at holdet vil arbejde med opgaverne efter bedste hensigter. For mig har det været nøjagtigt det samme, som hvis jeg havde haft holdet internt – David Bourgeois, grundlægger og CEO af CyanView
CyanViews Cy-Stem Universal Camera Control System blev nomineret til NAB 2019 prisen “Årets produkt”. De arbejder fortsat med at forbedre funktionaliteten og niveauet for integration med kameraer.
