Bergen, Norway - Vizrt has announced the integration between its Viz|Curious World Maps software with other key Vizrt products, including: Viz|Artist graphics design tool, Viz|Trio real-time CG, Viz|Content Pilot content management and control software, and the Viz|Weather real-time broadcast weather solution.
Following its 2005 acquisition of UK-based Curious Software, Vizrt is now offering a new “Map Server” which serves as an Active X plug-in for Viz|Artist, Viz|Content Pilot, Viz|Trio, and Viz|Weather. The Map Server bridges the Vizrt graphics applications with Viz|Curious World Maps.
Vizrt recently demonstrated a newly developed integration between Viz|Curious World Maps and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth platform, provider of high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery. Microsoft is the only company to offer oblique imagery on such a platform. With oblique imagery, viewers see a much more realistic perspective. Images are taken from the sides of buildings, for example, as opposed to a typical straight down perspective, common with other satellite and aerial imaging platforms.
Through this product integration, broadcasters can now use imagery products stored on Microsoft’s Virtual Earth platform with the same control they are accustomed to with Viz|Curious World Maps.
Vizrt also recently introduced version 7.0 of Viz|Curious World Maps, for creating high-quality 2D and 3D animated maps of any place in the world for use in broadcast, presentations, and Web programming. Version 7.0 adds the latest update to the map database from Collins Bartholomew, a UK-based provider of custom and digital mapping services. Version 7.0 also adds support for various imagery compression schemes that enable users of Curious World Maps to manipulate large imagery files with greater ease.