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From: jbn@glacier.STANFORD.EDU (John B. Nagle)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics,rec.arts.tv,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: ShowScan
Keywords: TV Showscan
Message-ID: <18060@glacier.STANFORD.EDU>
Date: 30 Jan 89 16:55:09 GMT
References: <3230@datapg.MN.ORG> <3047@pixar.UUCP> <41153818.16321@apollo.COM> <3069@pixar.UUCP> <72@sdcc10.ucsd.EDU>
Reply-To: jbn@glacier.UUCP (John B. Nagle)
Distribution: na
Organization: Stanford University
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      Clearly the next step after HDTV will have to approach Showscan
resolution.  We are also going to need computer displays with that kind
of bandwidth.  How much bandwidth is it?  Well, a 70mm film frame is
generally considered to be about 6000 by 8000 pixels.  So 60fps x
256 levels x 3 colors x 6000 x 8000 = 2.2*10^12 bits/sec, or an
uncompressed data rate of about two terabaud.  Hardware with this
kind of speed should be achievable by 1995 or so.

      For flight simulators and such, one really needs an image that covers
a hemisphere.  What fraction of a sphere is Showscan?

      The amount of compute power necessary to generate high-quality
images in real time at these densities will be rather large.  If we
take a goal of obtaining the quality of Pixar's "Tin Toy", and want a
hemispherical view, how much compute power will be required, and,
based on projections that progress continues at current rates, when do we
get it?

					John Nagle