France 2 is using Krypton from Hybrid MC to power a groundbreaking traffic report feature in its national news bulletins. Combining animated 2-D and 3-D information graphics within a virtual set, France 2’s Point Route bulletins feature presenters giving detailed real-time analysis of traffic situations and forecasting future driving conditions on roads throughout the country. The Point Route system automates the conversion of data from the national road network into graphical displays and allows journalists to present an overview of traffic conditions or focus on individual cities, districts, or road junctions.
Developed jointly with Paris-based graphics specialist Trimaran, the Point Route system uses Hybrid MC’s Krypton rendering platform to power both the virtual set and the display of the 3-D graphics, with Trimaran’s Point Route software providing the interface and operational front-end for France 2’s journalists on desktop computers.
“Hybrid MC’s Krypton rendering platform provided the outstanding solution for France 2’s exacting requirements,” said Olivier Emery, president of Trimaran. “This collaborative development between Trimaran and Hybrid MC gives virtual set productions a new level of dynamic capability in business graphics, maps, text, and animation, together with increased on-air interactivity for operators using desktop computers.”
The Point Route system receives traffic status data from the nationwide road network via FTP, and that data is automatically combined with satellite imagery for the map backgrounds and vector overlays of the roads. Journalists can add extra graphical information with easy-to-use tools before switching to on-air control of the system. The Point Route system streamlines production by automatically rendering routes and other details from dynamically updated information received from the traffic agency.
During the broadcast, Krypton renders the data from the Trimaran front-end, with operators controlling the selection of cameras, timing of animations, and the display of up to three live Webcam views from France 2’s network within the virtual set graphics.
