Introduction to Augmented Reality in Weather Forecasting
Meteorologist Tim Heller stands behind a knee-high graphic model of the Houston cityscape, describing a weather pattern that always brings precipitation to the metropolis. Cumulus clouds rise before him and, as he glides his hand across the scene, cool air slides underneath them, causing nimbus clouds to form and raindrops to start falling onto the skyline — an efficient visual that brings town’s weather story to life.
The Benefits of Augmented Reality
Heller, who worked at Disney’s KTRK Houston before founding his own consulting and talent coaching company, HellerWeather, is a giant fan of The Weather Company’s Max Reality product, an AR storytelling tool he believes will help TV meteorologists, and their stations, turn into the “go-to” source of weather information of their markets. With augmented reality, “the viewer becomes an energetic participant,” Heller said. “That really pulls them into the presentation.” This can keep viewers stay tuned in longer to a forecast, added Mike Convey, offering manager for Max Weather and Traffic at The Weather Company, an IBM Business.
Younger Audiences Prefer AR
Younger audiences prefer augmented reality, with 55 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds saying they like a weather presentation with AR technology. “Weather broadcasts had been the identical for years and years,” Convey continued. “This brings a complete latest flavor to it, and you may really set yourself apart.” Albert Martinez, chief meteorologist at Univision Network, who also participated within the webinar, showed the audience how he uses AR to clarify weather phenomena to his viewers.
Creating Compelling AR Presentations
Martinez has been creating and presenting with AR for nearly a decade and offers an excellent example of what meteorologists can accomplish with the technology. To create a scene, Martinez starts by sketching a storyboard on a notepad. He includes blocking, the objects he wants to make use of within the segment, background considerations, and where he plans to face while presenting the scene within the studio or out in the sphere. Martinez finds images that form the foundations of his scenes online or inside The Weather Community portal provided by The Weather Company.
From Simple to State of the Art
Meteorologists can start with easy scenes and move on to more complex ones as they gain experience. Martinez often uses a chroma key — a green screen with two sides and a ceiling — and camera tracking to realize a more realistic look along with his scenes. While he presents his scenes continue to exist air, he suggested that meteorologists start out broadcasting recorded scenes until they gain confidence with interacting with the presentation continue to exist air. Convey agreed, noting that 60 percent of Max Reality customers use traditional fixed cameras — which each newsroom already has — with objects keyframed out and in of scenes.
Adding Drama by Interacting With Imagery
Martinez’s use of the chroma key comes alive in a scene he created to clarify to viewers the difference between a Category 1 and a Category 5 hurricane. Dressed in a windbreaker, his hair blowing wildly, he stands in front of a small house in a howling wind and driving rain, while palm trees blow around within the background. As he speaks, the scene shows how damage to the house remains to be minimal, but as conditions worsen, a window shatters and Martinez, acting in self-defense, throws his arms up. By the time the segment enters Category 5 conditions, Martinez is shouting, a utility pole has crushed a automobile parked within the driveway and the home has lost its roof.
Bringing Data to Life While Drawing the Viewer In
Meteorologists aren’t certain to the studio when presenting with AR, although outdoor scenes require just a little more planning. Martinez showed webinar attendees how a scene he’d created to present in the sphere included shadows around objects and by his feet. When asked about how long it takes to create an AR scene, Heller and Martinez agreed that when practitioners have gained just a little experience, even elaborate scenes can come together in a few hours.
Conclusion
Augmented reality is changing the way in which meteorologists present the weather, making it more engaging and interactive for viewers. With tools like Max Reality, meteorologists can create compelling scenes that bring the weather to life, drawing the viewer in and keeping them tuned in longer. As Heller said, “Max Reality allows us to deliver a message in a way that you would be able to’t with a typical, 2-D weather map. It literally brings the information to life and in some cases pushes it into the viewer’s lounge.” As the technology continues to evolve, it would be exciting to see how meteorologists use AR to inform the weather story in latest and revolutionary ways.
