Unreal Powering The Weather Channel's Extreme Graphics

rgMekanic

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FastcoDesign is reporting that the Weather Channel is launching a new broadcast technology called Immersive Mixed Reality. The new tech is powered by the Unreal Engine, and a custom rig built by The Future Group from Norway. The Weather Channel wants 80% of it's broadcasts to contain mixed-reality effects by 2020.

Check out the video

Awesome tech, I'm excited to see what The Weather Channel and others do with it.

"We wanted to do something that would bring [weather stories] to our audience in a strong and memorable way," says Michael Potts, VP of design at the Weather Channel. "We want great moments. We want to engage our audience, and we want our content to be shareable."
 
So... the weather channel wont be reporting the real weather? It will just be imagined and modeled based off limited sensor data?

Why does everything have to be fake?

It's probably cheaper likely more reliable to skip the sensor data and go with sensors people. Like experienced ones who can read the energies of the planet. It says in the article the scientists at Epic labs have devised a way to feed raw sensor people prediction data directly into system generating these beautiful depictions of what's happening out there
 
looks kind of neat. if this is really real time and not just post processed cgi I think it is a bit impressive. I would think they just recorded the actor and bluescreen everything else.
 
I can see it now, Category 5 Hurricane / F5 Tornado hits " M-M-M-M-M Monster Kill!".


Fun fact, My dad was in the Ruskin Heights tornado that prompted the first use of a early warning system. Google Ruskin Heights Tornado an F5. https://www.google.com/search?q=Rus...xejbAhVBR6wKHbQVAxIQ_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=654

His house he grew up in was across the street from the high school gymnasium, which you can see the metal arches in this picture https://www.google.com/search?q=Rus...AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=654#imgrc=SCXaVEa9UjOH_M:
 
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Cringy.

I shudder to think how they're going to use this to make the next hurricane season even more like 'shitty Sportscenter meets garbage reality show'.
Yup, that's The Weather Channel. Instead of straight weather reporting, for the past several years they've been all in on weathertainment. It seems like everything is turning into OW MY BALLS!
 
So... the weather channel wont be reporting the real weather? It will just be imagined and modeled based off limited sensor data?

Why does everything have to be fake?
Wait until you find out how car commercials are made nowadays.
 
I love Jim Cantore. I've been watching him since I was a kid. His excitement for the weather always got me excited too.

So... the weather channel wont be reporting the real weather? It will just be imagined and modeled based off limited sensor data?

Why does everything have to be fake?

Oh, and lighten-up risc. This was at least informative and entertaining. The weather channel has actually really cool weather-related programs, and they do report the weather 24/7. Also, I am sure 99% of us get weather from widgets from our phones nowadays and checking weather takes up less than a fraction of a percentage of our day.
 
looks kind of neat. if this is really real time and not just post processed cgi I think it is a bit impressive. I would think they just recorded the actor and bluescreen everything else.

I'm more impressed with the shadow work. Sure, the shadows on the set could be calculated, but there are parts where he's moving around and the shadows are being accurately represented on him. If that's done in real time, that's nice.
 
Wait until you find out how car commercials are made nowadays.

I don't watch any commercials. Last I remember, there were real cameras and real cars on a skid pad doing stunts.
 
I love Jim Cantore. I've been watching him since I was a kid. His excitement for the weather always got me excited too.

Oh, and lighten-up risc. This was at least informative and entertaining. The weather channel has actually really cool weather-related programs, and they do report the weather 24/7. Also, I am sure 99% of us get weather from widgets from our phones nowadays and checking weather takes up less than a fraction of a percentage of our day.

I'll work on lightening up, as soon as my fancy effects get here.
 
So... the weather channel wont be reporting the real weather? It will just be imagined and modeled based off limited sensor data?

Why does everything have to be fake?

Well, it is the weather so its not likely it will be any less accurate if it is fake.
 
So... the weather channel wont be reporting the real weather? It will just be imagined and modeled based off limited sensor data?

Why does everything have to be fake?

I started using noaa after every other news article on weather.com was "were all going to die from global warming"

I realize they are trying to raise their hit rate, but common. Oh and their usability sucks. They designed it like casino floors. They hide basic shit so you spend more time on their site which looks good to advertisers.
 
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