The iGLANCE project
The primary goal of the iGlance project is to define a complete end-to-end 3D image chain for both consumer 3DTV applications and healthcare applications. The project includes the study and the realization of a 3DTV receiver that will be compliant with the consumer market requirements in term of cost, time to market, and interoperability.
The secondary goal of the project, is to take benefits of the received 3D data to make interactive free viewpoint selection possible in 3D TV broadcasted media. This means that the viewer can select and interactively change the viewpoint of a stereoscopic streamed video. The interactivity is enabled by broadcasting a number of video streams from several viewpoints, consisting of a traditional 2D video and additionally depth information for each frame. Any desired view location in-between is generated by free viewpoint interpolation, using the depth information. The interpolated images are then displayed on a stereoscopic screen, giving a 3D impression to the audience.
iGlance also aims to actively contribute to the standardization process for the future 3DTV, and to facilitate, by a pertinent demonstration, the mass adoption and the commercial deployment of the future 3DTV system
The iGLANCE project is part of the European MEDEA+ program. MEDEA+ is an industry-initiated pan-European program for advanced co-operative research and development in microelectronics. It has been set up and labeled within the framework of EUREKA (E! 2365) to ensure Europe's continued technological and industrial competitiveness in this sector. The iGLANCE consortium consists of STMicroelectronics, Logica, TIMA, INRIA and 4D View Solutions in France, and Philips Healthcare, the Eindhoven University of Technology, Nspyre, Silicon Hive, Verum and Prodrive in the Netherlands. The iGLANCE project targets the healthcare and the consumer market.
The project is spread over 3 years from Oct 2008 to Oct 2011. The total budget is 18MEuros shared between a French consortium and a Dutch consortium. Financing Organisms are the DGCIS from the French “Ministère de l'industrie”, and the equivalent from the Dutch Government. iGlance is an InterCluster and bi-Pole project that has been labelized by the pole Minalogic from Grenoble France , and Point-One from Eindhoven Holland.
