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auto centering camera puck thing
use a radio imbedded in the puck to keep a camera centered on it
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Watching a hockey game in person can be a thrilling experience. Hockey is a fast-paced game and the action can move quickly around the rink. When watching hockey on TV, however, a lot of times the camera-men have trouble anticipating where the puck is going to go next and have to play catch up. There are some shots on goal that a fan at home doesn't get to see because of this.

My idea is to imbed a small radio transmitter in the puck and have a TV camera that automatically centers the puck in it's view. That way, no matter what is giong on, the camera will follow the puck and we get to see what is going on. There will still be other cameras manned by people for the rest of the action which the TV crew can switch to, but the auto-centering camera would be helpful when the action is fast.

Please don't confuse this idea with that stupid blue line that followed the puck around that some goofs drew on the screen so slower types could follow the game.


Crackpot, Dec 17 2006

a very intersting article about this subject http://csdl2.comput...g/1997/02/g2006.pdf
[jhomrighaus, Dec 17 2006]



Annotation:







       I think there is a reason they don't do that now with the radio tracked pucks(where do you think they get the stupid line Blue Line). Can you say sea sickness!

jhomrighaus, Dec 17 2006
  

       So the camera would have to move at about 70-100 mph on a slap shot. I don't see how this would help the viewer at all.

Chefboyrbored, Dec 17 2006
  

       see link for details of Blue Halo(not drawn at all but digital) This came from the first Google hit when searching "Hockey Puck Tracking" Do some research next time.

jhomrighaus, Dec 17 2006
  

       I agree that the view could be bad when the puck is moving fast, but what about this camera as an option for just afterwards, when play has moved to another part of the rink and the manually operated cameras are trying to catch up?   

       The editor would still have discretion whether or not to use this single tracking camera in live transmission, or go with one of the manuals, so we (the viewers) wouldn't have to endure shaky/blurred images.   

       It could also prove quite good in slow-mo replays.   

       A half-decent control program could probably prevent the camera wobbling to every slight movement of the puck too.   

       Could be a good complement to the system in jhom's link, though I suspect those guys may already have considered it by now.

boysparks, Dec 18 2006
  


 
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