Vizrt to intro new version of maps clients software at NAB

Vizrt will unveil updates to its powerful Viz Curious Maps Clients
mapping software Version 8.0 at NAB Booths R129 and SL4805 this April.

Viz Curious Maps is a template-based software solution that
enables users to create branded maps and geographic animations. The Viz Curious
Maps can be extended to a server edition that can provide real-time, branded
map imagery to several clients embedded within Vizrt’s control applications.
Templates created within Viz Curious Maps can be dynamically accessed through
Viz Trio character generation software and Viz Content Pilot workflow solution
for journalists. In this new version, Viz Curious Maps acts as both a creation
tool and a server platform. Maps or templates first prepared using Viz Curious
Maps and Viz Artist design software are stored within a Viz Curious Maps server
that can be accessed by any number of users throughout an organization. The
enhancements within Viz Curious Maps, Version 0.8, greatly strengthen
connectivity between programs through the Viz Curious Maps server. Users can
seamlessly create branded, animated maps and add them to graphic templates or directly
to a 3D scene.

Another significant enhancement to Viz Curious Maps Clients
is within its labeling feature. Journalists or operators can now easily
separate labels that were previously too close together to be read. For
example, on a map that shows the eastern coast of the United States, labels for New
York and
New Jersey
may overlap. In Viz Curious Maps Clients 8.0, users can move those labels apart
and still have them point to the correct place on the map. 3D labels can also
be saved for use in other scenes.

Improvements have also been made to Viz Curious Maps
Clients’ animation capabilities. With Viz Curious Maps Clients 8.0, operators
can incorporate unlimited camera movements through animations within the map —
from any point to any point on the globe. Movements between multiple
destinations are also possible. Users can zoom in from an overall country view
or down to that of a particular county or even city. This feature is
particularly beneficial for weather and news applications because it provides
viewers with a better frame of reference.

Further enhancing the functionality of Viz Curious Maps
Clients, Vizrt has enriched the way the mapping software handles map layers.
Separating map elements into layers not only offers added design flexibility,
it increases the map’s detail. For example, weather maps can contain a
base map as one layer, a radar loop as another layer, and the state or country
borders as a third layer.

Templates can now be designed using Viz Curious Maps Clients
to show the terrain of a particular area automatically. The 3D terrain elements
can be placed according to geographical references on a globe and incorporated
on the map. The detail and height of the 3D terrain can be adjusted as needed.
Viz Curious Maps Clients is fully integrated with the newest
version of Viz Artist Version 3.1. Among the many advances inherent in
Version 3.1 are: RTT Advanced Materials plug-ins for photo-realistic rendering
of 3D objects and materials, new Visual Data Tools (VDT) plug-ins for increased
financial and statistical database functionality, and enhanced interactivity
with touch screen devices.