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FORscene is a complete internet video platform, covering editing and publishing for web and mobile.
FORscene is a web application which utilises a Java applet as part of its user interface.
FORscene uses a new type of video codec, designed for internet editing rather than video streaming.
Major UK production companies have used it in multiple broadcast productions. It has also been recognised by the Royal Television Society and won their award for Technology in the Post Production Process in December 2005.
History
FORscene is a natural development from an editing system made by Eidos plc in the 1990s by a similar team. The history starts from the first public showing of this product, at the International Broadcasting Convention in Europe in 1990.
| Date | Version | Platform | Significant features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1990 | Eidos Edit 1 | Dual Acorn Archimedes | Proprietary software codecs allow removable MO storage |
| Dec 1990 | Eidos plc floats on London Stock Exchange | ||
| 1992 | Eidos Edit 2 | Single Acorn Archimedes | Software-only editing system |
| 1993 | Eidos Optima replaces Edit 1 and Edit 2 | Acorn Archimedes | Complete revision of GUI |
| 1994 | Eidos Optima | Acorn RISC PC | Increase in colour resolution from 8bpp to 15bpp |
| 1996 | Eidos Optima |
|
Faster CPU allowed cheaper digitising solution |
| Feb 2000 |
| ||
| Feb 2001 | Java video streaming on website | Java |
|
| May 2002 | Live video streaming to mobile phone | Java/GPRS | Phone resolution still poor eg monochrome |
| Dec 2002 | Broadband web streaming | Java | 384x288 pixels, 25 fps |
| Sep 2003 | FORlive launched | Linux compression / Java player |
|
| Nov 2003 | FORmobile launched | Symbian Series 60 |
|
| Nov 2003 | FORscene project announced | Java |
|
| Sep 2004 | FORscene launched | Java | Simple Java editing and publishing tool |
| May 2005 | Logging added to FORscene | Java | Java logging, editing and publishing tool |
| Sep 2005 | Upload over-the-air from mobile phones into FORscene | Symbian |
|
| Sep 2005 | IBC TV news use FORscene/FORmobile | Symbian | |
| Sep 2005 | First broadcast national TV series made using FORscene | Channel 5 (UK) | |
| Jan 2006 | New video codec designed for editing rather than streaming |
|
|
| Jan/Feb 2006 | First prime time national TV series broadcast made using FORscene | BBC1 (UK) | |
| Apr 2006 | Podcasting released | Video iPod, iTunes | |
| Apr/May 2006 | British Army uses FORscene mobile player | Symbian mobile phones | Ascent of Everest published on mobiles |
Summary
FORscene is an internationally used, cross platform internet video solution with review, log, edit, and web/mobile publishing capabilities. Being Web 2.0, FORscene is constantly evolving.
Third party supporting information during discussion
Here's a video of the Royal Television Society award ceremony shot on a prototype Nokia N90 mobile phone, uploaded over the air, and edited and published in FORscene. This prototype N90 had a few bugs, but the fixed version has now been released and can give VHS-type resolution video.
Here's a reference to ITV's multiple programmes (Granada is the production arm of ITV). Their first ten programmes were broadcast on Channel 5 last year.
If you live in the UK, you can watch the prime time series Super Vets on BBC1 every Thursday at 8.30pm.
Here's some recent information on Tiscali, who have launched Clesh (which uses FORscene technology) with Forbidden Technologies.
AT&T legal action against MPEG-4 users. FORscene uses Forbidden's own editing codecs, so is not affected by MPEG-4 legal action. Having your own codecs is a significant technological position (as Apple Computer is finding out to their potential cost), which is why it is mentioned in the article.
Recent news on the Forbidden website from Friday 13th Jan and Thursday 26th Jan show a couple of recent BBC events Forbidden has been invited to attend to demonstrate FORscene.
Here's another big broadcaster using FORscene - GMTV
If you like flying saucers, you might be interested in this example of a video published on the web using FORscene.
Third party reviews
Here's a third party review of video streaming solutions which mentions FORscene.
Here's another third party review, this time specifically of an early version of FORscene.
References
- ^ FORscene web page
- ^ Showreel article
- Regional Film and Video
- Royal Television Society awards
- Video of Royal Television Society award ceremony