Pixotope has changed the game for virtual production education by releasing a mobile app called Pixotope Pocket. Available as part of the Pixotope Education Program, the app gives aspiring virtual production professionals unfettered access to augmented reality (AR) and virtual studio tools. Circumventing the need for a fully equipped studio, students need only a smartphone running the latest iOS and a PC to create powerful and immersive content anywhere.
Unlike traditional AR and VP workflows, with Pixotope Pocket, there is no need for a professional camera plus specific tracking hardware. The user can use their mobile phone’s camera to shoot footage while Pixotope Pocket handles the camera tracking. It combines device motion tracking, camera scene capture, and advanced scene processing. Video and tracking data are transmitted via SRT stream through a local network to the Pixotope Graphics machine installed.
“The introduction of Pixotope Pocket represents the next evolution of the Pixotope Education Program,” says Pixotope Education Program Manager Carina Schoo. “While we’ve made great strides in addressing the virtual production skills gap, we knew the technology could be made even more accessible to aspiring creators. The first step was to provide students access to our platform via their media facilities through the Pixotope Education Program. With Pixotope Pocket, we are taking this one step further.”
Pixotope’s Chief Revenue Officer, David Dowling, adds, “The virtual production skills gap is often cited as one of the main barriers to adoption. This is because getting the technology into the hands of tomorrow’s creatives has historically been cost and resource-prohibitive. Pixotope Pocket addresses that head-on and makes the technology easier to access and use. The result is an exponential increase in opportunities for students to hone their skills outside their school media production labs.”
With the introduction of Pixotope Pocket, the Pixotope Education Program expands how students can engage with virtual production tools and workflows. Students can now access virtual production tools via their school’s media production infrastructure and technology.
Asked how interested institutions and individuals gain access to the program, Pixotope CEO Marcus Brodersen says, “If you are an educational institution or someone who engages in teaching media production, you should reach out to us. There’s a conversation about whether what we offer is a good fit. We offer our professional software and training as part of this purchase. That being said, if you are out there reading this and thinking, ‘This is really something I need to get my hands on,’ you should also send us an email or a message. If enough people do, that’s a good incentive for us to move to the next step and have broader access.”
Pocket-Sized Virtual Production
Pixotope Education Program partner, the University of Gloucestershire, played a crucial role in bringing Pixotope Pocket to market. To ensure that Pixotope Pocket meets the needs of today’s virtual production students with precision, a group from the Digital Media course tested the app in a workshop and provided valuable feedback.
“For our students to succeed in their careers, they need to be able to understand technology, whether they’re using it themselves or commissioning someone else to use it,” says Anne Dawson, Head of the School of Creative Industries, University of Gloucestershire. “It’s very important that we partner with leaders in the industry, like Pixotope, to make the technology more accessible and help our students achieve this understanding.”
Pixotope Pocket is initially available on iOS, with support for Android devices coming soon, to students enrolled in courses at establishments partnered with the Pixotope Education Program.
About The Pixotope Education Program
Developed as a response to the talent shortage in Virtual Production, the Pixotope Education Program provides access to the software and tools that drive Virtual Production while connecting educators to experts from the global Pixotope community who can add breadth, depth, and context to different curriculums. The Pixotope Education Program is made up of three core tenets:
Industry Insight-Based Approach
With so many touch points and disciplines in media workflows where Virtual Production skills and knowledge need to be applied, no “one size fits all” curriculum or training program covers it all. The Pixotope Education Program does not try to shoehorn all educators, courses, and students into one learning. Instead, it evaluates the requirements and connects them to their needed tools and expertise.
Access to Tools and Experts
Affordable access to the software and tools that drive Virtual Production is a keystone of the Pixotope Education Program. By putting these tools in the hands of students, they will be able to experiment and develop their skills with industry-standard technology. Beyond the technology, the program connects educators to Virtual Production experts from the global Pixotope community that can help shape timely and impactful curriculums.
Built In Professional Networking
Pixotope is joining forces with diverse industry partners, covering vendors, creative agencies, and local suppliers, to provide further access to tools and expertise. In addition, the partnerships in the Pixotope Education Program give graduating students a path into various aspects of the industry, and similarly, the program also provides those partners with a talent pool from which to recruit
For more information on the Pixotope Education Program, please visit https://www.pixotope.com/pixotope-education-program
