Düsseldorf UAS and Vizrt Austria sign a cooperation deal - virtual studio technology in global use now also in the Department of Media

(mk) A further milestone was laid in technical media training oriented to practice at the Department of Media in Düsseldorf UAS at the start of the Winter semester 2009/2010: Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences and Vizrt Austria, a company based in Schwaz/Austria, agreed a cooperation contract on 24th September 2009. Among the aims of the deal are the deployment of the software provided by Vizrt at a market value of 813,000 Euro for developing virtual studio applications, joint assistance for the students in their academic work and practical assignments and in the preparation of materials for use in research and teaching in virtual studio technology. The University has thus found an optimal cooperation partner in the company, which has many years of experience in virtual studio techniques. As one of the leading enterprises in the field of broadcasting, it has equipped the studios of numerous, well-known television stations and media production companies. The latest example of the application of the software is the virtual studio of ZDF's "heute" news broadcast.

Innovative paths were trodden even during the official signing of the contract, whilst those responsible were able to get a first, direct confirmation of how powerful the new software is. The Rector, Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Krause, and the professors Dr. Eng./Univ. of Tsukuba Jens Herder and Dr. Christian Geiger signed the agreements in the Department of Media's virtual studio. Vizrt boss Christian Huber was connected live from Tyrol. Mr Huber thereby emphasised his great interest in the cooperation with D UAS, "firstly to participate in the research and development activities in virtual studio (VS) applications at the university, and secondly to enable students to access the most up-to-date VS technology which is now deployed throughout the world".

Students at the Department of Media recorded the signing of the contract in the virtual studio on a video trailer. This will be uploaded shortly to the www.medien.fh-duesseldorf.de web site.