The Hurricane Florence is on high alert to the United States after landfall on North Carolina. The category 1 natural event has generated an interest throughout the country and the media coverage has been extensive but none like The Weather Channel. The climate news channel has stunned its viewers with the use of augmented reality to explain the violence of this phenomenon. While the meteorologist Erika Navarro explained the scope of Florence appeared a simulation of a street flooded with possible damage.
The visual effect was of such realism that a wave of comments was generated from surprised viewers. They have praised the use of this technology to show the extent of the floods that according to forecasts can exceed two meters in some areas. The Future Group was in charge of producing this short but substantial video, but worthy of the special effects of a large Hollywood commercial film production. The comments deviated for a moment from the meteorological situation and we concentrated for a few moments on praising the good use of technology to make journalism to the public service.
Evidently, the content has gone viral. He got 7,867 retweets, 15,172 likes and 481 comments, not counting the reproductions he has managed to have in other accounts. Journalist Navarro begins her explanation by saying that “Florence can endanger the lives of many citizens on the United States coast.” In the simulation, the water begins to raise its level, and Navarro goes explaining that to up to 9 feet in height the water could take it and even drag some cars.
After the success of Navarro, the climate channel has also broadcast more content with this technology. In a new emission appears the meteorologist Greg Postel giving advice to the possible affected.
The simulation was created by the Norwegian company The Future Group, which joined The Weather Channel in early 2018 to present this type of innovation. In this case, mixed immersive reality (IMR) is being used. The realism effect is created using real videos recorded with 3D technology, 360 and computer-generated graphics.