Metrological, 2L Alliance, Prodrive, Softkinetic, Optrima to Demo Gesture-Driven Hybrid TV at IBC

Metrological Media Innovations said Tuesday that it is collaborating with its partners 2L Alliance, Prodrive, Softkinetic and Optrima to launch "a new and unique Internet-enabled television experience" at the IBC in Amsterdam next month (The Connected World, Hall 9, Booth IP361-364 and IP461, 462-464).

At last year's IBC, Metrological unveiled its flagship Mediaconnect TV offering, which it bills as a "next-generation, generic open media platform device based on the Intel CE Media Processing technology and powered by Metrological's Metroconnect Operating System." At IBC 2010, the company says, 2L Alliance, an international supplier of "lifestyle" and connectivity products, will become the first company to introduce the Mediaconnect TV platform to the consumer retail market, when it officially launches YuiXX, a set-top box that it bills as a "hybrid two-way media device that considerably enhances the consumer's TV experience." According to Metrological, its operating system and software for set-top devices such as YuiXX enables operators to extend OTT home media entertainment services to their current subscriber base. While watching traditional TV, the company says, viewers can simultaneously access an extensive range of Web-based multimedia applications. "We demonstrated an earlier version of YuiXX at CES 2010 and are thrilled to finally launch the world's most complete 'all-in-one' media player at IBC," 2L Alliance CEO, Gerben Romijn, said in a prepared statement. "We are very much looking forward to the market's response, when TV viewers discover that their existing TV set can easily be upgraded from a dumb device, that simply relays linear-TV channels, to a Smart TV that provides a truly interactive experience."

The hardware element of the new YuiXX device was designed and manufactured by Prodrive, which says that it will also demo a range of next-generation hardware solutions, based on the Intel CE4150 Media Processor, at the IBC. According to the company, one of its business units is focused on designing OTT set-top box and broadcast solutions based on the Intel SoC roadmap.

As [itvt] reported earlier this summer (see the article published on itvt.com, June 24th), Metrological recently announced a partnership with Softkinetic and Optrima to integrate 3D gesture-based interfaces, as well as video games and other gesture-based applications, with the Mediaconnect TV platform. "At IBC, we will demonstrate that by integrating our iisu gesture-recognition technology with the Metroconnect OS, consumers can experience 3D gesture-based entertainment on their current TV set, without the need for an expensive, proprietary video game console," Softkinetic CEO, Michel Tombroff, said in a prepared statement. Added Optrima CEO, Andre Miodezky: "Optrima's 3D Time-Of-Flight hardware technology embedded in Metrological's Metroconnect Operating System, in conjunction with Softkinetic's motion and gesture control software, offers a perfect entry point to use our 3D cameras in the living room." And added Softkinetic's VP of global sales and marketing, Virgile Delporte: "In addition to home entertainment solutions, our gesture recognition software can be used in a wide variety of other applications. Some of our content partners have also developed gesture-based fitness applications, enabling the elderly or disabled to perform exercises in front of the TV set at home."

Metrological and 2L Alliance plan to conduct a series of live presentations in the IBC's Connected Home of the Future demo area; while Softkinetic also plans to conduct several demo's of its 3D gesture-based applications in the show's Demonstration Area.