Explanation
Recording objects or people in full 3D for virtual reconstruction, enabling viewers to see the captured subject from any angle in an immersive environment.
Real-world example
Filming an actor from every angle simultaneously to perfectly recreate them as a 3D character you can walk around.
Practical applications
- Immersive video: walking around a filmed person as if they were in a video game
- Training with real experts: recording a trainer in 3D to review from every angle
- Virtual events: concerts and performances with volumetrically captured artists
- Human heritage preservation: capturing testimonies, traditional gestures, and know-how
Volumetric capture technologies
Multi-camera studio
- Dozens of synchronized cameras
- Professional high-quality capture
- Specialized studios (expensive)
Example: Microsoft Mixed Reality Capture studio, 4DViews
Portable / AI-based solutions
- Fewer cameras, more algorithms
- More accessible but lower quality
- Rapidly evolving technology
Example: Capture from a few smartphones + AI-powered 3D reconstruction
VR scenario
A master craftsman is volumetrically captured while demonstrating a traditional technique. In VR, the learner can walk around them, get closer to their hands, replay the movement in slow motion — as if they were an apprentice right beside them.
Why it matters in professional VR
- Volumetric capture enables real humans to be included in VR experiences
- Different from avatars: it's the real person, not a stylized representation
- Still expensive technology, but democratization is underway