It is not easy working in broadcasting if you’re disabled, as Chris Lynch has discovered during his 20 years in the industry. He wanted to be a camera operator and DoP, “but there are so many physical barriers that prevent people with disabilities from taking on these roles”.
As a wheelchair user, he tried using a Steadicam with a self-balancing chair, “but it was too restrictive”. So, he co-founded Caerus to develop his own system, with help from industry heavyweights such as Ronford Baker, Red, CVP, DJI, Ignite Digi, Ottobock, NiSi and BlkBird, and now has “a market-ready platform” that he believes “will have a transformative impact on people with disabilities”. It can be used in single-operator mode with control over everything, or camera control can be handed off to an assistant.
“We wanted this to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows, so we have three versions.” Vista, an indoor/outdoor model, can handle most productions, with a wireless range of up to 6km; Studio for indoor studio use takes a camera and lens payload of up to 11kg; while Caerus Rover is an all-in-one system with on-board lighting, LiveU, on-board power, teleprompter and even a custom umbrella to cover system and talent.
Lynch has just made a BBC Northern Ireland documentary, In the Driving Seat, about his own search for the right technology, which will be broadcast on the BBC in November.
Stand Number: 11.B07
Company: Caerus Technology
.jpg)
Camera prototype brings scene-adaptive imaging
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) is showcasing a prototype of a scene-adaptive camera that dynamically adjusts the imaging parameter in each shooting area.
.jpg)
AI and ads are reshaping streaming
The 10th Annual Video Developer Report from Bitmovin has highlighted a shift in streaming economics, with ad-funded video emerging as a stronger monetisation engine as advertising gains ground against subscription models.
.jpg)
VX Series scales up
Among a raft of products on display at IBC from Nautel are the new VX8 and VX10, respectively 8kW and 10kW analogue FM transmitters.
.jpg)
SABC begins move to IP
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has bought 14 UHK-X600 UHD camera systems from Ikegami as part of a multi-year move to IP production at its main facility in Johannesburg.
.jpg)
Streaming with a broadcast flavour
Debuting at IBC, Nexus is BroadView Software's new cloud-native workflow orchestration platform.
.jpg)
.jpg)