Tiledmedia: high quality VR image streaming

New technology breakthrough in virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) makes it possible to project images through special glasses that make you think you are elsewhere. For example, you can walk through a city or jungle, attend a concert or a sports match. Because of the high quality image and sound, you experience a very different reality in a very realistic way, wherever you are.

Threshold broken

There is only one problem: sending VR images in such high quality requires an enormous amount of bandwidth. In order to project them, you need a super-fast internet connection, unless you compromise image quality. That means a threshold for the use of VR, while wonderful applications are available. The Tiledmedia startup has devised a method to overcome this barrier. They developed the technology that lies at the basis of this solution as media experts at TNO.

Cut up film images into 'tiles'

This technique proved to be perfectly suited for VR. The secret is to cut the images into pieces, or tiles, and only stream the fragments that the user needs at a particular moment. On VR glasses with 360 degree video, the viewer only ever sees part of it. Neither can you see the Panorama Mesdag at a glance. Tiledmedia’s technology detects what the user is looking at through the glasses at a particular moment and calculates the images needed in milliseconds.

Global interest

Within a year, the group has grown from four to more than ten employees. Tiledmedia now works with leading companies such as Intel, MediaKind (Ericsson spin-out), Harmonic and Viaccess-Orca. There is interest from Akamai and other content delivery networks that distribute for large entertainment companies or broadcasters, as well as telecom operators. There are many applications imaginable for travel organisations, companies that can help people with fear of heights or flying and education. The company is expanding under its own power, but for new technologies Tiledmedia continues to work with shareholder TNO.