Oxford Metrics Share Discussion Threads

[lignum] 14/5/2018 09:35

Good find Mr D - Vicon motion capture cameras going to be much in demand I hope.

[mr dexy] 14/5/2018 08:30

hmmmm....... now, the character shown in these articles looks somewhat familiar ;)


"PS5: did Sony just confirm existence of PlayStation 5 games?
Sony studio hiring programmer with "Next Gen game console experience" and knowledge of "UNREAL technology" "

hxxps://www.t3.com/news/ps5-did-sony-just-confirm-existence-of-playstation-5-games



"Here's what you might be playing on the PlayStation 5
A 'Digital Human' and new job listings might be a clue to what you'll be gaming on next "

hxxps://www.esquireme.com/content/27846-heres-what-you-might-be-playing-on-the-playstation-5


Regards to all


Mr D

[basem1] 10/5/2018 12:19

It was valuation grounds that put me off too. Can't ignore the trend however.

[starpukka] 08/5/2018 15:36

Hello Gentlemen. Profits are not great here as a percentage of current market cap, and are not forecast to be for the next 2 years so I am curious to know why this share has its staunch supporters ? All the best anyway to holders.

[lignum] 25/4/2018 10:27

Mr D - no you're not alone. What I find interesting as well is that despite their relatively small size OMG and Audiomotion seem to have carved out for themselves a very strong niche.

Audiomotion only has 9 employees I think (may be wrong - hard to find info on them) and is also based in Oxford. They describe themselves as:

"Audiomotion Studios is Europe's leading performance capture service provider. We are a multi-award winning, multi-stage studio, specialising in the provision of motion capture services to the Game Development, Film and Television industries. Equipped with over 160 Vicon cameras, robust real-time, head mounted cameras and virtual camera we can provide everything you need."

It would be interesting to know how much a Vicon camera costs and what their replacement cycle is. So far as I can see OMG only sell the cameras and provide hardware / software support.

Audiomotion is only one of Vicon's customers. About Vicon:

"Academy Award®-winning Vicon is the world’s largest supplier of precision motion capture and tracking systems. It serves customers in the CG animation, object-tracking, virtual and augmented realities, engineering, broadcast, biomechanics, sports and clinical sciences arenas.

Vicon is a subsidiary of Oxford Metrics (LSE: OMG), the international software company servicing government, life sciences, entertainment and engineering markets. Other holdings include Yotta, a provider of software and services for infrastructure asset management.

Amongst many others, Vicon global clients include:

Entertainment: Framestore, Audiomotion, The Imaginarium, Quantic Dream, Ninja Theory, Konami, Activision, Sony, Dreamworks, ILM, USC, EA, Capture Lab, 2K Games, CD Projekt, Digic Pictures, IO Interactive, Creative Assembly, Plarium Games, Mocap Lab, Seasun

VR: Artanim, VR Tech, Dreamscape VR, Canon, Samsung"

It would be interesting to know how many Vicon cameras there are out there.

[mr dexy] 25/4/2018 08:59

I guess I may be alone in this.. but I find this absolutely fascinating... the reaction of the guys when they first "step" into the VR...

hxxps://blog.vive.com/us/2018/04/20/behind-scenes-vive-set-ready-player-one/


"Behind the Scenes: Vive on the set of “Ready Player One”
Matthew Gepp • 04.20.18

Virtual reality is pushing the boundaries of the film industry, from changing the way viewers watch to the way directors create. With the recent release of Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One”, Hollywood has embraced VR for its utility on set as well as its futuristic story lines.

We got a chance to go behind the scenes of “Ready Player One” to see how Director Steven Spielberg used the Vive when creating the blockbuster film. Whether scouting virtual locations or designing sets and shots in real time, the film crew took advantage of the Vive’s unique ability to allow them to step inside a virtual scene. But the value of VR wasn’t just appreciated by the crew, even the cast benefited from the technology when preparing for their scenes. "

Regards to all


Mr D

[lignum] 24/4/2018 13:26

Mr D - agree re Vicon it seems to me to be a better fit in a large entertainments business leaving management to focus on growing Yotta. Either way OMG are in a good position.

[mr dexy] 24/4/2018 10:09

New release of Shogun launched at the start of FMX2018 today... fyi

"Film-Grade Motion Capture Software On Display at FMX; Demos of Epic’s “Siren” Digital Human and Vicon Experience (VEX) VR Escape Room in Booth 2.1

STUTTGART, GERMANY – April 24, 2018 – Today from FMX 2018, Vicon announces the official release of Shōgun 1.2, the latest update to the leading motion capture software for film, broadcast and games. Shōgun 1.2 arrives with 11 new features and improvements, including SDI video support, custom prop and skeleton solving and an improved Shōgun Post workflow that will help users deliver unparalleled skeletal data in a matter of hours.

“Being able to solve and animate directly onto a game or film rig using Shōgun has been our number one feature request,” said Tim Doubleday, VFX product manager at Vicon. “Users want to be able to see their characters in real time, in engine, without the need of additional retargeting software.”

With Shōgun 1.2, mocap teams can add and record up to two HD SDI video camera devices for easy overlays of 3D footage. Blackmagic cameras and capture cards are now supported, with more options planned for the future.

There are a number of other new features, including the ability to create custom skeletons from meshes within Shōgun Post. Newly created custom rigs, complete with mesh and textures, can be loaded into Shōgun Live and applied to the capture pipeline, allowing game and film rigs to be driven directly using Vicon’s robust full-body solver.

Shōgun Live now supports prop creation with mesh and gives users the ability to modify the position and orientation, which ensures that elements like virtual cameras line up exactly. The Post workflow also now allows artists to validate skeleton solves in Maya and MotionBuilder, through seamless exporting of undistorted video and camera positions via FBX.

FMX 2018

The release of Shōgun 1.2 coincides with the start of FMX 2018 and Vicon’s entertainment platform and optical systems will be on full display at booth 2.1. From April 24-27, Vicon will host two demonstrations per day, both powered by Shōgun 1.2. The first daily demo takes place each morning from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and features Epic Games’+“Siren,” a project designed to push the boundaries of what a digital avatar can be. In the afternoon from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the focus will shift to the Vicon Experience (VEX), an interactive multiplayer VR escape room created to showcase the possibilities of location-based VR. Both are open to all show attendees."

hxxps://www.vicon.com/press/2018-04-24/vicon-launches-shogun-12

Can't help thinking someone will make an offer for Vicon.. all imho, of course


Regards to all


Mr D

[mr dexy] 20/4/2018 16:45

And.. from the same link.... re VR & Escape Rooms...

VEX Virtual Escape Room with DesignImage, Dynamixyz, HP and PopcornFx

To highlight the new Shōgun 1.2 and give a practical look at what it can do, we created VEX, an interactive multiplayer VR escape room made specifically for GDC to showcase the possibilities of location-based VR. The VEX escape room features puzzles and a futuristic setting created by DesignGame, with real-time facial tracking courtesy of Dynamixyz. Popcorn FX also added its real-time FX to bring the environment to life, and the entire experience is then driven through Unreal Engine 4 using Shōgun and Live Link to animate the players’ avatars in real time.

Players were given the opportunity to step into our Vantage camera volume and see themselves appear as an avatar in the VEX scene, guided by a performer captured in full-body and face animation.

Have a great weekend... and enjoy the sun!

Regards to all


Mr D

[mr dexy] 20/4/2018 16:42

hxxps://vicon.com/blog/2018-04-19/vicon-at-gdc-2018


Blog
19 April 2018
Vicon at GDC 2018

The annual Game Developer's Conference brings over 26,000 programmers, artists, producers, and game designers together for five days in San Francisco, California. Vicon exhibited at the 2018 Expo and had one of our most successful shows ever. Take a closer look at our 'Meet Siren' and 'VEX' demonstrations and watch the livestreams below!
Siren with Epic Games, Cubic Motion, 3Lateral Studios and Tencent

Siren, a high-fidelity full performance character driven in real-time, was developed to run on the Unreal Engine using Vicon cameras for capture and processing in Shōgun 1.2.

Epic Games handled all of the modelling, rigging, and rendering look development for Siren, except her face. Their facial scanning and rigging pipeline using 3Lateral's rig was able to accurately capture every dynamic muscle contraction. The rig was capable of conveying an incredible range of emotion in realtime using their Rig Logic technology.

Cubic Motion used the video footage provided by their two camera head mounted camera system to re-create the live actress' facial expressions in real time. They enable Siren to replicate any movement from an actor's performance in realtime at 60fps.

The actress’s marker data is solved directly onto the Siren rig using a custom skeleton solve. This new feature in Shōgun 1.2 allows the motion capture data to stay true to her performance and removes the need for an extra re-targeting step. Our actress wears a skin-tight Lycra suit, with 59 reflective markers attached onto the suit. The Vicon cameras can then track the markers and Vicon Shōgun labels and fits a skeleton to the marker cloud.

One of the most incredible things about the Siren character is that she runs in real-time at 60 fps. For the Siren demo we use our new high-speed Vantage 5-megapixel cameras. These have a wide lens option with very low latency which is critical when running a real-time demo. Running timecode allows us to sync up the body, face and audio which is also crucial when working with multiple hardware sources. Each part of Siren is run by its own PC. The hands and body are run on one, while the facial solver is run on another. All of that data streams into to the main PC, which is running Unreal Engine 4 and acting as the central hub to render the final image.

Digital characters are becoming more and more important as new forms of media emerge. Eventually we may all have digital likenesses of ourselves and having compelling characters that can emote and that we can react to is the next step in creating truly believable characters. This demo shows what is possible.

Regards to all


Mr D

[mr dexy] 19/4/2018 23:54

Vicon will be demonstrating Siren @ FMX2018

"Vicon @Vicon Apr 18

The #FMX2018 countdown continues! #Vicon will be Live each day with @EpicGames @cubicmotion and @3Lateral to show our amazing #Siren Demo.
We will have live demo’s at 10:30, 11:45 and 13:00. Come by @FMX_Conference booth 2.1 and #MeetSiren."



If you haven't already seen Siren... do have a butchers... it's well worth a look...





"FMX Conference @FMX_Conference
Tickets are sold out. We wish everyone attending #FMX2018 a fantastic time!

Save the date for FMX 2019, April 30 – May 03 2019, Stuttgart, Germany."


Regards to all.


Mr D

[mr dexy] 17/4/2018 13:17

And Yotta presenting tomorrow at the :

IoT Tech Expo Global 2018 | 18-19 April

Yotta is exhibiting its revolutionary Connected Asset Management Software Solutions at IoT Tech Expo Global 2018, at Olympia, London on 18-19 April 2018. Manish Jethwa will be presenting at 10.30am on “The Technology Behind Connected Infrastructure Assets“.

Regards to all



Mr D

[mr dexy] 17/4/2018 11:02

And on the biomechanics front, posted today

Vicon Biomechanics and Sports Science Showreel 2018



Regards to all


Mr D

[mr dexy] 15/4/2018 22:35

Recent youtube posting giving an idea of what Vicon are up to.. including Hellblade





"Really pleased for @NinjaTheory and the awards they picked up last night at@BAFTAGames for #Hellblade" ( Tweet from Friday )



Regards to all


Mr D

[mr dexy] 12/4/2018 22:00

Cheers BB,

Just had a look to see what Yotta have been up to recently.. and where they are due to be presenting :



1) Yotta is exhibiting its latest innovative Connected Asset Management Solutions at APSE Parks Seminar 2018, on 15th March, at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Knutsford, Cheshire.

Yotta’s Software Business Development Manager, Steve White, is speaking at Session 2, 11.45am, on Innovation in Green Spaces Management – The Connected Park.



2)Yotta is sharing its expertise on Connected Asset Management Solutions at APSE Highways, Street Lighting and Winter Maintenance Seminar 2018, on 22-23 March, at Hilton Hotel, Blackpool.

Alex Croston is speaking at 12.00, Session 2: Risk & Reward on “Harnessing data and technology to enhance asset management”



3)Yotta will be exhibiting its latest innovative Connected Asset Management Solutions at CIWM Cleaner Communities Day on 18th April at DW Stadium, Wigan.

Steve White, will be speaking at 11.30 on Local Authority Case Study: Fly-Tipping & Enforcement.



4)Yotta is exhibiting its revolutionary Connected Asset Management Software Solutions at IoT Tech Expo Global 2018, at Olympia, London on 18-19 April 2018.

Manish Jethwa will be presenting at 10.30am on “The Technology Behind Connected Infrastructure Assets“.



5) Yotta is exhibiting its latest innovative Connected Asset Management Software Solutions at Anglian & London HAUC Roadshow 2018, on 26th April, at Allianz Park, Hendon.


Just FYI

Regards to all


Mr D

[bbluesky] 12/4/2018 21:15

Hoping all those suffering council tax rises are lobbying that there is a better way!!

[bbluesky] 12/4/2018 14:00

From the Tvilight site: “We are proud to introduce the CityManager asset management software suite to help local authorities, asset managers, and public lighting operators manage streetlights and other infrastructure assets more efficiently. The suite is supported by Yotta, a company with decades of experience in developing asset management solutions and a unique expertise in this field. What they offer is a comprehensive solution with amazing user-friendliness...CityManager helps convert a traditional Excel-type database into a powerful visual dashboard, where all important lighting asset elements (e.g. cable networks, luminaires, drivers, etc.) are tracked and presented in an interactive way that helps infrastructure operators quickly gain insight into their asset base and related processes....Yotta’s software is used worldwide by local authorities and councils, including the Dutch road authorities, and by organizations such as Highways England. The street lighting management module is successfully used to maintain over a million streetlights in over 75 cities worldwide." All sounds good.

[mr dexy] 12/4/2018 13:40

"Yotta partners with Tvilight to shape the asset management future

Yotta’s connected asset management software, Alloy is powering new Tvilight CityManager platform

Leamington Spa, UK, 10 April 2018 – Technology company, Yotta has announced it is working in partnership with Tvilight, a market leader in smart city lighting solutions, in a deal set to revolutionise the way local, regional and city authorities manage their assets and infrastructure.

Following the agreement, Tvilight’s CityManager platform, which is designed to optimise management of public assets like streetlights, and streamline asset-related operational activities, is now powered by Alloy, Yotta’s next-generation connected asset management solution. A cloud-based platform, Alloy helps organisations reduce IT infrastructure and service costs, while delivering optimum levels of availability and support."

hxxps://www.oxfordmetrics.com/news/2018-04-10/yotta-partners-with-tvilight-to-shape-the-asset-management-future

FYI

Regards to all



Mr D

[lignum] 03/4/2018 13:48

I'm here and agree with you both. Just waiting for news to confirm our expectations.

[mr dexy] 03/4/2018 09:41

Just me and thee here it seems BB ( shhhhh ! )

Looks like they are quietly going about the stated aim... "to double profits and triple recurring revenue"

Yotta, as you say, is looking at a big market... while the Vicon kit is in a very hot space.. AI.. VR..

If I see any updates, I'll bung 'em up.

Will be interesting to see how it all pans out..

All the best.

Mr D

[bbluesky] 03/4/2018 09:07

Thx Mr Dexy. Not sure investors realise just how potentially big the market Yotta is addressing is and if it gains good traction there will be a lot of upside.

[mr dexy] 03/4/2018 08:08

"Audiomotion in collaboration with Digital Domain used Vicon Vantage V16 cameras and an early version of Shōgun Software; nearly 60 percent of the film featured performance capture

OXFORD, UK – March 29, 2018 – Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One” features two separate worlds; both featuring very different realities and each requiring a different approach to filming. One depicts a fractured, dystopian future, while the other is filled with infinite possibilities. Behind the scenes, the production was no less ambitious, requiring stages that could adapt and reform on the fly while maintaining high fidelity and precision performance capture for multiple characters. To help create this, Audiomotion, in collaboration with Digital Domain, relied on Vicon’s optical systems."

hxxps://www.oxfordmetrics.com/news/2018-03-29/audiomotion-and-vicon-help-make-the-virtual-into-reality-for-ready-player-one

"In total, Audiomotion brought in 204 Vicon Vantage V16 cameras and 30 T-Series cameras. During performance capture"

Regards to all



Mr D

[mr dexy] 03/4/2018 08:06

As it's quiet.. and news from OMG is pretty rare.. thought I'd share these 2 recent updates :

Visualised asset management software enables local authority to prioritise sites based on pothole density and reduce backlog

"Leamington Spa, UK, 26th March 2018 – Brent Council has adopted a visualised asset management software solution from technology company, Yotta, to help tackle the borough’s most problematic potholes. In line with its commitment to improve the quality of local roads, Yotta’s asset management software will enhance both decision-making capabilities and public safety.

Through asset and condition data capture, the council is using Yotta’s Horizons platform to provide it with much-needed operational insights for patching maintenance programmes. The decision to use Horizons for this work follows the signing of a four-year deal, also including an annual consultancy package, between the two organisations in October 2016, and highlights Brent’s ongoing commitment both to Yotta and to Yotta’s Infrastructure Asset Management Consultancy (IAMC) approach."


hxxps://www.oxfordmetrics.com/news/2018-03-26/yottas-horizons-helps-brent-council-target-pothole-hotspots

Regards to all.


Mr D

[mr dexy] 27/3/2018 12:36

No worries BB... I have soooo many senior moments.. thought I'd better check!

Had a look at a number of videos for the Siren project.. looks very good with some pretty decent partners.

Regards to all



Mr D