QoE 2014 - Special Session on Media Synchronization and QoE

Organizers
Pablo Cesar, CWI, Netherlands
Christian Timmerer, Alpen-Adria-Universität, Austria
Hans Stokking, TNO, Netherlands
Fernando Boronat, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain
Topics of Interest
QoE for audio-visual synchronization
QoE for synchronization of multi-sensory experiences (e.g., sensory effects, mulsemedia)
Intra-Media synchronization modelling
QoE for inter-destination multimedia synchronization
QoE media synchronization testbeds
QoE media synchronization datasets
QoE evaluation metrics for media synchronization
QoE evaluation best practices and standardization efforts for media synchronization
Scenarios of Interest
Hybrid broadcast/broadband scenarios
Multi-party videoconferencing
3D tele-immersion
Distributed performing arts
Motivation and Objectives
Media synchronization has been a challenge for quite some time. Over the years, many techniques to achieve intra- and inter-media audiovisual synchronization in various network conditions have been developed. On the one hand, novel media technologies such as HTTP streaming protocols, media encoders and HDTV often require new synchronization techniques. On the other hand, new patterns in media consumption often introduce specific synchronization issues. For example, internet applications evolving around broadcast TV content may need synchronization between the application and the broadband stream. Synchronization between different TV receivers may be needed in Social TV (interdestination media synchronization). In some interactive TV cases synchronization between handheld devices and the TV screen may be needed. Moreover, 3D technologies for TV broadcasting and telepresence (3D tele-immersion) may require the adoption of several of these synchronization techniques to achieve a satisfying user experience. Finally, research on multi-sensory experiences brings the promise of novel and enriched media consumption scenarios.
Fortunately for the research community, media synchronization will remain a challenge for the time to come (unless the rules of the Universe change overnight and instant delivery of packets becomes a reality). Undoubtedly, different techniques and strategies for achieving media synchronization have an impact on the Quality of Experience. This special session addresses exactly that: QoE and media synchronization in our multi-sensory, multi-device, and multi-protocol world. The purpose is to bring together experts working in the field of media synchronization, in order to discuss recent advances with a special focus on QoE. The special session is the continuation of a series of successful workshops on Media Synchronization (MediaSync) held in Berlin in 2012 and Nantes in 2013.