In the fast-paced world of live production, where every second counts, live graphics play a critical role in delivering dynamic and engaging content to viewers around the globe. Whether it’s the crawl on a news channel or real-time score updates on a sports broadcast, production teams toil behind the scenes to create and execute these graphics seamlessly, adding an extra layer of excitement to the viewing experience.

Now Singular.Live aims to democratize live graphics for productions of all sizes with cloud-based tools that enable the creation and delivery of custom graphics in a fully remote workflow. Singular’s live graphics platform also allows users to surpass traditional graphics with a host of customization and personalization options designed to increase viewer engagement and interaction.

As part of NAB Amplify’s video series, “The Future of Production Amplified,” NAB Amplify content partner Jennifer Wolfe chats with Mike Ward, Singular’s head of marketing, about how smart graphics, or “Intelligent Overlays,” are driving the future of live production. Ward, managing director for Europe, the UK and the Middle East at solutions provider Reality Check Systems, brings more than 20 years of experience in the broadcast space to his role at Singular.

“Intelligent Overlays are the next generation of graphic overlays,” he explains. “They can be localized, personalized and interactive, providing an immediate real-time feedback loop to content creators for higher levels of engagement and interactivity with their audience.”

In Part 1 of our Q&A, Ward defines Intelligent Overlays and explains how they’re helping to revolutionize live production. He also discusses specific use cases, including the creation of interactive menus and live quizzes and polls for Blizzard’s esports productions, along with Singular’s technology partners, and how the Singular platform can help broadcasters and streamers unlock or enhance personalized viewer experiences.

Watch Part 1 below:

In Part 2, Ward explains how the Singular platform enables remote and cloud-based workflows, along with the advantages — and risks — of employing cloud-native platforms. He also discusses the need for redundancies in any live production workflow — cloud-based, on-prem, or a combination of the two — as well as what he sees for the future of live production.

Watch Part 2 below:

In Part 3, Ward talks about Uno, Singular’s new all-in-one graphics solution developed for streamers, which is often described as “like Canva for live production” because of the platform’s simple interface, which allows even novice users to customize and apply overlays from a library of templates. He also discusses how the release of Uno allows Singular to focus more on serving the needs of its enterprise customers, and how Intelligent Overlays are transforming video consumption from a passive activity into an active, engaging experience.

Watch Part 3 below:

Connect with Mike Ward on LinkedIn, and follow Singular on Twitter and Instagram. You can also learn more about Singular’s live graphics platform at Singular.Live.