Until the early 2000s, virtual reality and holograms were a staple of sci-fi movies. But now, they’re approaching the realm of everyday life. Various content companies are introducing VR and AR-enabled devices, and the production of related content is on the rise. With these developments, people are increasingly demanding realistic graphics. Unlike typical content, which is essentially created through flat visuals, virtual reality and holographic content requires a 360-degree view and associated visuals to create the same sense of realism as if you were actually there.

Equipped with technical skills in the volumetric field

Selected as TIPS, a technology startup program by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

MNNH (CEO Beongwang Min) is a 6-DOF (6-axis free viewpoint) spatial stereoscopic video processing deep-tech company that develops technologies and contents that fuse pixel-based photorealistic images and rendering-based graphics in AR/VR/MR environments through volumetric video processing. The company is a leader in volumetrics, a technology that uses more than 100 cameras with 4K or higher image quality to capture dynamic human movement, then combines the photos to create a 360-degree stereoscopic video. It is highly realistic because it creates three-dimensional images based on real life, and the humans created by this technology are called ‘digital humans.’ CEO Beongwang Min says “Traditional character avatars have their strengths, but a lot of the mainstream content we see is live-action, so there’s a demand to see actors, idols, etc. in a virtual space, and that’s where volumetric capture technology comes in.” Volumetrics enable the creation of mixed reality (MR) content that blends the real and the virtual, which is becoming increasingly important, especially as the pandemic increases the use of in-person content. Especially as virtual reality continues to expand its impact beyond theaters and into education, healthcare, advertising, gaming, and more, volumetrics will be essential. MNNH is a leader in this area of volumetric technology and is ready to offer a full range of services. The company uses its own technology for the entire processing from custom embedded boards for real-time monitoring to volumetric video synthesis software, and uses dozens of professional cameras, not just vision cameras for easy camera control, to create lifelike, three-dimensional videos. The company developed and commercialized these complex filming studios and technologies through the TIPS program, a technology start-up program of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

Celebrity influencers go metaverse

Savannah-XR, an immersive metaverse content service

XR, which stands for extended reality, is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of immersive or interactive technologies. It is a concept that encompasses augmented reality that takes place in the real world, as well as mixed reality and virtual reality, where the virtual and the real are intertwined. XR is being used across industries, from architecture and engineering to everyday content, but it is especially gaining traction in media, where it is showing new scalability. MNNH believes that the future will move beyond the era of individual display ownership, and that displays will become part of everyday life. Instead of using a device with a display to view content as we do today, everything you see will be a display. MNNH’s volumetric studio is 363 square meters, with 50 render farms for processing, software customization for XR services, and support for multiple formats and game engines. In addition, the studio has in-house game-engine-based CG production staff. These capabilities allow us to provide an all-in-one service from shooting to content creation to distribution. The company develops and delivers immersive Metaverse content and Savannah-XR. Savannah-XR is an immersive content that allows users to experience performances of famous influencers and celebrities in the Metaverse. It is an ultra-immersive performance video that is created by fusing 3D holographic video shot in three dimensions with 3D graphics. The company produces high-quality three-dimensional holograms of various performances and delivers them through Savannah-XR, where the content can be viewed from a free perspective in 6DoF. Currently, Savannah XR is participated by DJ Gina, influencer Lily, and other well-known Korean YouTubers and TikTokers, allowing users to enjoy immersive media XR content in a 3D virtual space that offers spectacular VFX effects, EDM-inspired dance performances, and a club atmosphere in a metaverse.

MNNH says “We will continue to collaborate with Korean celebrities to create hyper-realistic metaverse content to showcase K-celebs’ virtual reality performances to the world.” The company is currently developing and servicing immersive content and related technologies utilizing various holographic technologies, and has received great response at various exhibitions such as the KES 2023.