Pioneering cloud technology unlocks new dimensions in holography and virtual reality
Immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and holography are redefining how industries operate, from healthcare to entertainment. However, traditional cloud infrastructures often fall short of meeting the stringent demands of these technologies, including low latency and high bandwidth requirements. The EU-funded CHARITY project tackled these challenges by creating an innovative framework that integrates cloud, edge, and network infrastructures to deliver seamless immersive experiences.
Redefining media applications with advanced orchestration
The CHARITY project was inspired by the rising need for real-time responsiveness in media applications. "As AR, VR, and holography become integral to multiple sectors, the demand for high-performance computing has surged," notes Alessandro Bassi, CHARITY project coordinator. The project's primary goal was to redefine the infrastructure supporting extended reality (XR) applications, offering a solution to the limitations of traditional cloud systems. By utilising edge computing, CHARITY brings data processing closer to the user, reducing latency and enhancing service reliability. This approach ensures that AR, VR, and holography applications maintain high-quality standards even under heavy data loads.
Meeting the demands of immersive experiences
One of CHARITY's strengths is its ability to effectively manage extreme latency and bandwidth needs. Leveraging 5G networks, the project's framework seamlessly orchestrates tasks between cloud and edge environments, significantly reducing delays. The integration of cloud and edge computing "minimises delays and improves responsiveness ensuring smooth delivery of immersive experiences like VR training or holographic events," explains Bassi. CHARITY also employs AI-powered orchestration to predict network traffic, adjusting resources dynamically. This ensures the stability of immersive experiences like VR applications used in key industries and holographic communication, even in fluctuating network conditions.
Technological innovations in resource orchestration
The CHARITY project introduced several groundbreaking solutions to optimise the orchestration of resources. The framework incorporates cognitive decision-making techniques and virtual network functions (VNFs) to enable on-demand scaling. By leveraging AI, CHARITY optimises network slicing, ensuring efficient use of resources while maintaining isolation between services. CHARITY also uses ETSI's Zero-touch Service Management (ZSM) principles to enable autonomous orchestration across cloud and edge domains. This level of automation supports dynamic scaling, enhancing the performance of immersive media applications.
Security and privacy in the XR environment
Data security and privacy are crucial for immersive technologies, especially when handling sensitive information. CHARITY employs advanced encryption and decentralised data management techniques to ensure secure data exchanges across its integrated environments. "By implementing privacy-by-design principles, the framework ensures that data is processed responsibly, with user consent at the core of its operations," says Bassi. To further safeguard user privacy, CHARITY integrates anonymisation techniques and real-time anomaly detection, ensuring a secure and transparent XR experience for all participants.
Real-world testing and impact
CHARITY's framework underwent extensive testing in real-world scenarios, including VR training and holographic events. These trials validated its ability to handle high-performance media applications with low latency, which is crucial for sectors like healthcare and education. For example, the framework dynamically adjusted resources in VR training scenarios to prevent disruptions, providing a smooth and reliable experience, supporting applications such as remote surgery simulations and technical skill development.
A new era for immersive technologies
CHARITY's achievements are expected to drive the commercial adoption of XR technologies. By ensuring seamless content delivery and enabling interoperability across diverse infrastructures, the project lowers the barriers to market entry for immersive technologies. The insights gained from CHARITY's real-world deployments will play a pivotal role in shaping future industry standards, fostering the widespread adoption of XR technologies across sectors.
Keywords
CHARITY, holography, edge computing, XR technologies, virtual reality, immersive media, augmented reality, cloud computing, network orchestration
