TECHNICAL FIELD

The following generally relates to the production of digital video content, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for generating annotated class discussion videos, which contain real-time student commentary, post-production annotations responsive to student commentary, or a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND

In the United States and elsewhere, a large majority of adults now routinely carry smartphones capable of capturing and wirelessly disseminating high quality video. Leveraging this, video production systems have been recently introduced that serve as a central node for receiving, processing, and otherwise combining video input feeds from multiple smartphones or similar wireless devices having video capture capabilities. In so doing, such video production systems permit groups of relatively non-professional users equipped with smartphones or similar devices to work collaboratively in capturing multiple video feeds of an event, while one or more group members navigate between the video feeds to generate a desired output stream. The end result is a professional-style video production, which can be readily disseminated for viewing, sharing, publication, archiving, and other purposes. Such video production systems have been well-received by schools and other learning institutions for generating video content of community school functions, school sporting activities, and other school-related events utilizing any number of smartphones operated by students, faculty members, and possibly parents during events. The full potential of such video production systems remains unrealized, however, particularly as it relates to opportunities to further support student educational endeavors.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Video production systems and methods are provided for generating annotated class discussion videos, which contain real-time student commentary, post-production annotations responsive to such student commentary, or a combination thereof. Embodiments of the method are carried-out by a video production system including a video processing device and a display device. In an embodiment, the method includes the step or process of receiving, at the video processing device, at least a first video input stream from at least a first dedicated video input source of an educational presentation, such as a prerecorded lesson or live demonstration. Student commentary data is also received at the video processing device, as transmitted from a plurality of student-operated devices during the educational presentation. A preliminary or raw commentary-containing video of the educational presentation is generated by the video processing device, which contains student commentary derived from the student commentary data and synchronized to the appropriate timepoints at which such comments were submitted or captured during the presentation. Afterwards, the raw commentary-containing video is outputted to the display device for presentation thereon. In certain embodiments, the method further includes the steps or processes of: (i) after outputting the raw commentary-containing video, receiving explanatory content responsive to the synchronized student commentary contained in commentary-containing video; and (ii) utilizing the video processing device to further generate an annotated class discussion video of the educational presentation containing the explanatory content.

Embodiments of the method set-forth in the previous paragraph, may also include, in conjunction with receiving the first video input stream at the video processing device, concurrently receiving a second video input stream from a second dedicated video input source capturing the educational presentation. Selected portions of the first video input stream may then be combined with selected portions of the second video input stream when producing the raw commentary-containing video of the educational presentation. Similarly, in other implementations, the method may include the step or process of, in conjunction with receiving the first video input stream at the video processing device, concurrently receiving real-time sensor data pertaining to the material presented during the educational presentation. A visual representation of the real-time sensor data may then be incorporated into the raw commentary-containing video when producing the commentary-containing video of the educational presentation.

Further disclosed is a video processing device, which forms part of a video production system including a display device. In an embodiment, the video processing device includes a controller configured to receive a video input stream from a dedicated video input source during an educational presentation, a wireless receiver coupled to the controller and configured to relay student commentary data received from a plurality of student-operated devices during the educational presentation, and a memory storing computer-readable instructions. When executed by the controller, the computer-readable instructions cause the video production system to generate a raw commentary-containing video of the educational presentation, which contains student commentary derived from the student commentary data and synchronized to the appropriate timepoints at which such comments were submitted or captured during the presentation. The computer-readable instructions further cause the video production systems to present the raw commentary-containing video for viewing on the display device.

The foregoing methods and variants thereof can be implemented through software or program products bearing computer-readable instructions. Various additional examples, aspects, and other features of embodiments of the present disclosure are described in more detail below.

