officials from Nokia, the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Chattanooga Airport, the Tennessee Aquarium and the Enterprise Center were on hand Tuesday to introduce the first municipal demonstration of ultra-high definition live video in the country.
The Planar UltraRes 98” 4K display screen located inside the Chattanooga Airport is now streaming live footage from cameras inside the Tennessee Aquarium’s alligator habitat using EPB Fiber Optics’ Internet connectivity powered by Nokia technology.
Terry Hart, Airport president, said, “One of the Chattanooga Airport’s goals is to immerse visitors in the Chattanooga experience as soon as they touch down in our city. This high definition display is one of the ways to continue to show travelers why Chattanooga is internationally-recognized as a truly innovative city.”
At 30 frames per second, the live video of the Alligator Bayou promises to wow airport passengers while enticing them to visit the Tennessee Aquarium and see the alligator exhibit for themselves, first hand, officials said.
“Viewing alligators in real-time will give travelers an exciting first glimpse of what’s waiting for them in downtown Chattanooga,” said Keith Sanford, Tennessee Aquarium president and CEO. “First-time visitors will be pleasantly surprised by our world-class aquarium, restaurants and other family-friendly attractions.”
What is not visible to the airport passengers is the networking and technical expertise required to make the live 4k video display possible. The 4k video feed is transmitted by the EPB Fiber Optics network which is powered by fiber optic technology supplied by Nokia, a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things.
Jason Collins, vice president of IoT market development at Nokia and leader of the ng Connect Program and IoT Community, said, “A lightning fast network is needed to support the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that will make cities smarter, safer, and more enjoyable by being better connected. Alongside ng Connect members, Nokia is working with Chattanooga to deploy new IoT technology over EPB’s gigabit network that will attract local business and innovation, while also delivering new digital experiences to the city’s residents and visitors.”
Bob Doak, Convention and Visitors Bureau president, said, “It’s exciting to have the ability to use this incredible technology to showcase our city in a new, fresh and creative way. This is one more example of how our community continues to lead, be innovative, look forward, and stay ahead. Visitors want to be in cities that are unique. Tourists spend more than $1 billion annually in Hamilton County. We want to continue to provide new experiences for them – and what a great way to greet them when they arrive at the Chattanooga Airport.”
“Chattanooga’s entry as the first player to stream live 4K video is another example of what happens when people work together, a trademark of how Chattanooga operates.” said Ken Hays, president and CEO of the Enterprise Center. “The Enterprise Center is proud to play a role in bringing different players to the table for the benefit of our city and county.”
Screen capture footage is available here: youtu.be/BjZLsx7FEmI. Remember to check the HD settings on YouTube before playback.