Intel’s 360-degree replays are coming to the baseball diamond.
The tech giant announced that its new replay technology, which debuted during the most recent NBA season, will be on display during this week’s MLB All-Star Game in San Diego.
Using 28 cameras positioned around Petco Park, Intel can stitch images into a 3D rendering that lets viewers seamlessly “fly around” key plays and see the action from any angle.
“Our goal in bringing this technology to baseball is to create a more engaging visual experience for fans who tune in to America’s favorite sport on networks and digital and mobile platforms by providing a unique perspective of the best plays everyone will be talking about,” Intel Senior VP Wendell Brooks said in a blog post.
Here’s a look at how the replay technology works with NBA games:
This is another result of Intel’s acquisition in March of Replay Technologies, an Israel-based startup that develops 3D video broadcasting software. It’s also another move into sports from Intel, which has made a serious effort to bring its technology into the sports world.
In January, we spoke to Intel VP of Smart Device Innovation Steve Holmes about Intel’s partnership with X Games Aspen.
“We’re at a big transition point now with being able to bring computational horsepower and miniaturize technology,” Holmes said. “It’s a natural time for Intel to really participate in a much broader way in sports.”
That was the same message delivered by Intel at the big Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this past January, when the company spent half of its 90-minute keynote announcing partnerships with companies like ESPN, New Balance, Red Bull, and Oakley.
During the keynote, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich talked about using Intel’s hardware and software to help New Balance develop next generation smartwatches, or help Oakley make smart-glasses that provide coaching during exercise for people through speech technology. He also showed off the 3D innovations from Replay Technologies.
Krzanich participated on a separate panel at CES about sports tech investing with people like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, who himself is a big sports geek. The Intel CEO said that the uptick in sports technology-related investments can be simply credited to improvements in technology itself. He cited innovations like virtual reality and wearable devices that are now ready to be used by the masses.
“It’s hitting a breakthrough,” Krzanich said. “If you think it’s big now, just wait until the next two or three years when we’ll have another set of breakthroughs.”
Intel won’t be the only tech company with a presence at the All-Star Game. Bellevue, Wash.-based carrier T-Mobile, an MLB sponsor, is hosting a “Home Run Derby VR Experience” both at the Fan Fest in San Diego and in 2,200 T-Mobile stores around the country.
