The Standard

In an era where digital identity and personal branding are paramount, the integrity and authenticity of digital representations are increasingly critical. At Big Idea, we recognize the necessity of establishing robust standards to manage and protect digital representations—specifically the name, image, likeness, and voice of individuals. The Big Idea Digital Name, Image, Likeness, & Voice Asset Standard (D-NILVAS) is designed to provide a comprehensive framework for capturing, managing, and utilizing these digital assets with the highest levels of security and ethical consideration.

Our standard sets forth detailed guidelines to ensure that digital representations are captured in a manner that upholds their true essence, preserves their quality, and respects the privacy and rights of the individuals they depict. This is crucial not only for maintaining personal integrity but also for ensuring that these assets are suitable for a variety of applications, ranging from digital marketing and virtual reality to advanced artificial intelligence simulations and beyond.

The D-NILVAS standard addresses the technological, ethical, and practical aspects of digital asset management. It defines the technical specifications for capturing digital assets, outlines best practices for storage and handling, and sets forth clear guidelines for consent and usage rights. By adhering to these standards users can ensure their digital  Name, Image, Likeness, & Voice assets are protected, compliant with regulatory requirements, and prepared for the future of digital interaction.

This standard is a reflection of Big Idea's commitment to pioneering the forefront of digital intellectual and creative asset management, providing a secure and reliable framework that supports the innovation and creativity of our users. As we move forward, Big Idea continues to develop and refine our standards to meet the evolving challenges and opportunities of the digital landscape.

1. Ensure Authenticity and Integrity
   1. D-NILVAS aims to maintain the authenticity and integrity of digital likeness assets by standardizing the methods of capture, processing, and storage. This ensures that digital representations are true to the real-life appearance and characteristics of the subjects they represent.
2. Enhance Security and Privacy
   1. By setting stringent guidelines for data handling and storage, the standard protects the privacy and security of individuals’ digital assets against unauthorized use and potential data breaches. It emphasizes consent and transparency in the use of digital assets, aligning with global privacy standards and regulations.
3. Facilitate Compliance
   1. The standard provides a clear framework for compliance with legal and ethical requirements, reducing the risk of misuse and ensuring that digital assets are used responsibly and respectfully across various platforms and media.
4. Support Technological Advancements
   1. As technology evolves, particularly in areas like AI, VR, and AR, D-NILVAS ensures that digital likeness assets are compatible with the latest technological advancements. This compatibility is crucial for enhancing user experiences and enabling innovative applications of digital assets.
5. Promote Consistency Across Industries
   1. By establishing universal guidelines, the standard promotes consistency in the quality and treatment of digital likeness assets across different industries, including entertainment, sports, education, and corporate sectors. This consistency is vital for ensuring that all stakeholders have clear expectations and understandings of asset quality and usage.
6. Empower Innovation and Creativity
   1. The standard supports creators by providing clear guidelines that help them manage their digital assets effectively. This empowerment enables innovation and creativity, allowing users to explore new ways of using digital assets while ensuring that these assets are protected and managed responsibly.
7. Enhance Market Confidence
   1. By ensuring that digital likeness assets are captured and managed according to high standards, D-NILVAS enhances trust and confidence among consumers, businesses, and regulatory bodies. This trust is essential for the growth and sustainability of markets that rely on digital representations.

1. Overview
   1. Data sets play a crucial role in capturing and representing a person's likeness accurately and authentically in digital form. They consist of various types of data, including visual, audio, and contextual information, which collectively capture a comprehensive digital representation. The integrity, security, and proper management of these data sets are essential to maintaining the authenticity of the likeness while protecting individual privacy and ensuring ethical use.
2. Naming Convention
   1. Adhering to standardized naming conventions for data sets helps maintain consistency, improves data management, and facilitates efficient retrieval. Naming conventions for data sets should include:some text
      1. Prefix: A standardized prefix indicating the type of data (e.g., IMG for images, VID for videos, AUD for audio, MTU for multi-use).
      2. Subject ID: A unique identifier for the individual whose likeness is captured.
      3. Date and Time: The date and time of data capture in YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS format.
      4. Version Number: If applicable, to distinguish between different versions or updates of the same data.
      5. Example: IMG_12345_20240502_143000_v01
3. Types
   1. Data sets representing likeness include, but are not limited to:
      1. Image Data
         1. High-resolution photos and video captures from different angles to represent facial features, expressions, and movements.
      2. Audio Data
         1. High-quality audio recordings capturing voice patterns, tone, and inflection for use in voice recognition and synthesis.
      3. Metadata
         1. Additional information such as camera specifications, lighting conditions, and recording environment that provides context to the captured data.
      4. Behavioral Data
         1. Data reflecting unique movements or mannerisms that contribute to a person's digital likeness, often derived from motion capture or tracking systems.
      5. Contextual Data
         1. Additional information that provides context to the data, like environmental settings, locations, or situational details.
4. Copyright
   
   1. Protecting the intellectual property rights of individuals and organizations concerning likeness data is crucial.
   2. Key aspects include:
      1. Ownership
         1. Explicitly state the ownership of each data set, whether it's held by the individual, a licensed entity, or a third-party organization.
      2. Usage Rights
         1. Define the specific rights granted for using the data, including the scope of usage, geographic limitations, and duration.
      3. Licensing Agreements
         1. For data sets to be shared, comprehensive licensing agreements must be in place to outline the permitted usage and restrictions.
      4. Distribution and Sharing
         1. Establish clear guidelines for how data sets can be shared, emphasizing secure and ethical sharing practices, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

1. Identity Verificationsome text
   1. Purposesome text
      1. Identity Verification is essential for ensuring that the digital representations of an individual’s likeness are authentic and correspond accurately to the real person. This requirement aims to prevent misuse, impersonation, and unauthorized use of someone's digital likeness.
   2. Key Componentssome text
      1. Initial Identity Confirmationsome text
         1. Document Verification some text
            1. Collect and verify government-issued identification (e.g., passport, driver’s license) to establish the individual's identity.
         2. Biometric Comparisonsome text
            1. Use facial recognition or fingerprint scanning to match the individual's physical attributes to their identification document.
      2. Continuous Verificationsome text
         1. Authentication Protocolssome text
            1. Implement secure login systems with multi-factor authentication to ensure only authorized individuals can access and manage their likeness data.
         2. Biometric Updatessome text
            1. Periodically update biometric data, such as photos or voice recordings, to ensure they remain current and accurate.
      3. Access Controlsome text
         1. Role-Based Accesssome text
            1. Assign access levels based on the role of individuals interacting with the data, ensuring sensitive operations are restricted to authorized personnel.
         2. Audit Trailssome text
            1. Keep detailed logs of who accesses the likeness data and when, helping to identify and prevent unauthorized access or changes.
      4. Secure Communicationsome text
         1. Encryptionsome text
            1. Encrypt data in transit and at rest to prevent interception or unauthorized modifications.
         2. Digital Signaturessome text
            1. Use digital signatures for transactions involving likeness data to verify authenticity and integrity.
      5. User Consent and Verificationsome text
         1. Informed Consentsome text
            1. Obtain explicit consent from individuals before capturing, storing, or using their likeness data, clearly outlining the intended usage.
         2. Verification Proceduressome text
            1. Establish a process whereby users can verify their consent was obtained and where they can update or revoke their consent.
      6. Legal and Regulatory Compliancesome text
         1. Data Protection Lawssome text
            1. Ensure compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and others, which emphasize consent and privacy.
         2. Industry Standardssome text
            1. Align verification practices with relevant industry standards, such as those set by NIST or ISO, to ensure global compliance.
      7. Dispute Resolutionsome text
         1. Claim Reviewsome text
            1. Provide a mechanism for individuals to dispute inaccuracies or unauthorized usage of their likeness.
         2. Correction Proceduressome text
            1. Develop clear guidelines for correcting inaccuracies and securely updating likeness data.
2. Image, Video, & Voice Recordssome text
   1. Overviewsome text
      1. The Big Idea Digital Name, Image, Likeness, & Voice Asset Standard offers three distinct profiles—Standard, Professional, and Studio—to meet diverse digital representation needs. The Standard Profile, captured with a smartphone, is ideal for everyday applications, providing a basic yet authentic digital representation. The Professional Profile, created with DSLR cameras and studio microphones, offers a more refined likeness suitable for professional settings, such as digital portfolios and high-quality presentations. The Studio Profile leverages a 360-degree camera rig and advanced audio systems to produce a comprehensive, immersive digital likeness. This profile is perfect for virtual reality, high-end simulations, and other advanced digital environments. Together, these profiles provide tailored solutions for a wide array of scenarios, ensuring authenticity and excellence across all digital representations.
   2. Standard Profile (Shot on iPhone)some text
      1. Video Specificationssome text
         1. Resolution: Minimum 1080p (1920x1080 pixels) to ensure high-definition clarity.
         2. Frame Rate: 30 frames per second (fps) to balance quality and file size, suitable for most applications.
         3. Aspect Ratio: Standard 16:9, which is widely used and compatible across various platforms.
         4. Stabilization: Use optical or software stabilization to reduce motion blur and shake.
      2. Photo Specificationssome text
         1. Resolution: Minimum 12 megapixels (MP), which offers high-resolution images for clear detail.
         2. Aspect Ratio: Typically 4:3 for standard photos; ensure settings reflect this to maintain uniformity.
         3. File Format: JPEG, with high-quality compression settings to avoid significant loss of detail.
      3. Lightingsome text
         1. Type: Natural lighting conditions, ideally indirect daylight to avoid harsh shadows and overexposure.
         2. Positioning: Light source should be facing the subject to illuminate the face evenly. Avoid backlighting to prevent silhouetting.
         3. Time of Day: Shooting during the "golden hours" (shortly after sunrise or before sunset) can provide softer light.
      4. Framing and Compositionsome text
         1. Framing: Single frontal face shot with the entire face clearly visible. The subject should occupy approximately 70-80% of the frame vertically.
         2. Background: Use a simple, non-distracting background that contrasts with the subject to ensure focus on the face.
         3. Eye Level: Camera should be positioned at eye level to the subject to avoid unnatural angles.
      5. Audio Specificationssome text
         1. Duration: 1-2 minutes of continuous speech.
         2. Quality: Record using the iPhone's built-in microphone or an external microphone compatible with the iPhone for improved audio clarity.
         3. Environment: Choose a quiet environment with minimal background noise. Indoor settings are preferable to control ambient sound.
         4. Content: The speech can be free-flowing or a read passage that covers a range of phonetic sounds (as previously suggested, the passage "The North Wind and the Sun" is suitable).
      6. Video Formatsome text
         1. Video Codec: H.264, which is broadly supported and efficient in terms of compression.
         2. Audio Codec: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), which offers a good balance between quality and file size.
         3. Container: MP4, ensuring broad compatibility with various devices and platforms.
      7. Additional Recommendationssome text
         1. Orientation: Always shoot in landscape mode to maximize compatibility with viewing platforms.
         2. Post-Processing: Minimal; maintain natural appearance without significant alterations to facial features. Ensure consistency in post-processing across different recordings.
         3. Storage and Handling: Secure storage with privacy in mind. Data should be encrypted if stored or transmitted over public or unsecured networks.
   3. Profession Profile (Shot with DSLR Camera)some text
      1. Video Specificationssome text
         1. Resolution: Minimum of 4K (3840x2160 pixels) to capture high-detail imagery suitable for professional use.
         2. Frame Rate: 24 or 30 frames per second (fps), with 24 fps often preferred for a cinematic look and 30 fps for smoother motion portrayal.
         3. Aspect Ratio: Standard 16:9 for broad compatibility.
         4. Stabilization: Use a tripod or a stabilizing rig to eliminate camera shake and maintain a professional quality.
      2. Photo Specificationssome text
         1. Resolution: Minimum 24 megapixels, enabling high-resolution captures that retain detail even when zoomed or cropped.
         2. Aspect Ratio: 3:2, common to DSLR cameras, providing a slightly more elongated frame compared to typical smartphone shots.
         3. File Format: RAW, to preserve all image data with no compression, allowing for greater post-processing flexibility.
      3. Lightingsome text
         1. Setup: Use controlled lighting setups such as softboxes, LED panels, or umbrella lights to ensure even exposure and soft shadows.
         2. Arrangement: Three-point lighting (key light, fill light, and back light) to achieve a well-balanced and professional look.
         3. Adjustments: Be prepared to adjust light intensity and color temperature to match skin tones and ambient conditions for consistency.
      4. Framing and Compositionsome text
         1. Views: Capture multiple angles:some text
            1. Frontal View: Directly facing the camera, used as the primary view.
            2. Side Views: Both left and right profiles.
            3. 45-Degree Views: Halfway between frontal and profile, showcasing more dimension of the face.
         2. Background: Use a neutral or non-distracting background that complements the subject.
         3. Guidelines: Maintain consistent headroom, and eye-level across different shots to ensure uniformity.
      5. Audio Specificationssome text
         1. Microphone: Use a high-quality external microphone, such as a lavalier mic for close-up clarity or a shotgun mic for more controlled environments.
         2. Recording Environment: Acoustically treated or quiet spaces to minimize echo and background noise.
         3. Duration and Content: 5-10 minutes of either continuous or scripted speech, which could include professional presentations or dialogue typical of a professional setting.
      6. Video Formatsome text
         1. Video Codec: Use ProRes for its high-quality, lossless compression, ideal for professional editing workflows.
         2. Audio Codec: Linear PCM for uncompressed audio quality, ensuring top-notch sound reproduction.
         3. Container: MOV or similar, which is standard for high-quality video formats and supports extensive metadata.
      7. Additional Considerationssome text
         1. Orientation: Primarily use landscape orientation unless specific project requirements dictate otherwise.
         2. Post-Processing: Allow for color grading, exposure adjustment, and other enhancements while maintaining the natural appearance of the subject.
         3. Storage and Handling: Implement rigorous data management practices, including backup and secure handling of raw footage to prevent unauthorized access.
   4. Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)some text
      1. Video Specificationssome text
         1. Resolution: Minimum of 4K (3840x2160 pixels) per camera to ensure detailed imagery when viewed in immersive environments.
         2. Frame Rate: 30 fps or higher, with higher frame rates (like 60 fps) preferred for smoother motion in VR applications.
         3. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio is typically determined by the VR platform standards but usually follows a spherical or equirectangular format for 360-degree videos.
         4. Overlap: Ensure sufficient overlap between camera fields of view to facilitate seamless stitching in post-production.
      2. Photo Specificationssome text
         1. Resolution: Minimum 24 megapixels per camera to capture detailed high-resolution images from every angle.
         2. File Format: RAW to maintain the highest level of image data integrity, allowing extensive post-processing capabilities.
         3. Coverage: Full 360-degree coverage using multiple cameras strategically placed around the subject.
      3. Lightingsome text
         1. Type: Professional-grade studio lighting, adaptable to create even illumination across all camera angles.
         2. Setup: Typically involves multiple light sources including key lights, fill lights, and back lights, arranged to minimize shadows and evenly light the subject from all sides.
         3. Control: Use of diffusers, reflectors, and adjustable light sources to manage shadow, highlight detail, and avoid glare.
      4. Framing and Compositionsome text
         1. Camera Placement: Arrange cameras in a circular or spherical setup to capture the subject from every possible angle.
         2. Subject Positioning: The subject should be centered relative to the camera arrangement, typically standing on a marked spot that ensures consistent distance from each camera.
      5. Audio Specificationssome text
         1. Microphone Setup: Employ a surround sound microphone setup or multiple directional microphones positioned around the subject to capture spatial audio that aligns with the video.
         2. Quality: High-fidelity microphones capable of capturing a wide range of frequencies to ensure voice and ambient sounds are recorded with clarity.
         3. Environment: Acoustically treated studio to prevent echo and reverb, enhancing audio clarity.
      6. Video and Audio Formatsome text
         1. Video Codec: ProRes or similar high-quality codec suitable for extensive post-production and color grading.
         2. Audio Format: Multi-channel audio formats like Dolby Atmos or similar to support VR and other immersive experiences.
         3. Container: MOV or a similar high-quality container that supports extensive metadata and multi-channel audio tracks.
      7. Additional Considerationssome text
         1. Stitching: Advanced stitching software is required to merge inputs from multiple cameras into a single, seamless 360-degree video or image.
         2. Post-Processing: Extensive post-processing capabilities are necessary, particularly for color grading, alignment, and stitching correction to ensure a seamless viewer experience.
         3. Storage and Handling: Large file sizes necessitate substantial storage solutions, with robust backup and data management strategies to handle the high data throughput and ensure data integrity.
      8. Testing and Quality Assurancesome text
         1. Preview and Testing: Regular previews during shooting to check for alignment issues, lighting inconsistencies, and audio-video sync errors.
         2. Quality Assurance: Rigorous testing of the final outputs on actual VR hardware to ensure the experience is immersive and free of visual or auditory disruptions.
3. Optional Metadatasome text
   1. Overviewsome text
      1. Incorporating this optional metadata helps enrich digital assets with additional context, facilitating advanced use cases like machine learning training, detailed analytics, and improved asset management.
   2. Subject Information:some text
      1. Age Range: The approximate age range of the subject.
      2. Ethnicity: If relevant and permitted by consent, to help provide context for AI model training.
      3. Gender: To help categorize and manage data sets for analysis or comparison.
   3. Capture Intent and Usage:some text
      1. Intended Purpose: Brief description of the intended use of the asset, such as marketing, AI training, or educational purposes.
      2. Usage Restrictions: Any specific limitations on how the asset can be used, as agreed upon during consent.
      3. License Information: Licensing terms for third-party use or sharing, including expiration dates and usage restrictions.
   4. Session Details:some text
      1. Capture Session ID: A unique identifier for the session in which the asset was captured, useful for tracking and categorization.
      2. Session Duration: The length of time spent capturing the asset, to provide context on the production process.
      3. Session Notes: Additional notes about the session, such as challenges faced or deviations from standard procedures.

The D-NILVAS standard outlines the accepted formats for importing digital likenesses, ensuring that the integrity and quality of the likeness are preserved throughout the process.

Image Formats

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

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Usage: Standard Profile (shot on iPhone)

Characteristics: Widely supported, lossy compression which balances quality and file size.

Benefits: Ideal for web use, fast loading times, and sufficient quality for general applications.

Limitations: Lossy compression can result in quality degradation over multiple saves.

RAW

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Usage: Professional Profile (shot with DSLR Camera), Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: Uncompressed, high-resolution format that retains all image data.

Benefits: Maximum post-processing flexibility, preserves all details and quality.

Limitations: Large file sizes, requires specialized software for editing and viewing.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

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Usage: Optional for specific scenarios requiring lossless compression.

Characteristics: Lossless compression, supports transparency.

Benefits: High quality, suitable for images requiring transparency.

Limitations: Larger file sizes compared to JPEG.

Video Formats

MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14)

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Usage: Standard Profile (shot on iPhone), Professional Profile (shot with DSLR Camera)

Characteristics: Commonly used container format that supports H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec.

Benefits: Broad compatibility, efficient compression, good balance of quality and file size.

Limitations: Quality can be limited by the codec settings.

MOV (QuickTime Movie)

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Usage: Professional Profile (shot with DSLR Camera), Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: Container format developed by Apple, supports high-quality video and audio codecs like ProRes and Linear PCM.

Benefits: High-quality video and audio, preferred for professional editing workflows.

Limitations: Larger file sizes, less compatible with non-Apple devices without additional software.

ProRes

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Usage: Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: High-quality, lossy video compression format developed by Apple.

Benefits: Excellent for post-production with high fidelity and color accuracy.

Limitations: Large file sizes, primarily supported in professional environments.

Audio Formats

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)

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Usage: Standard Profile (shot on iPhone)

Characteristics: Lossy audio codec, widely used in mobile devices and streaming services.

Benefits: Good sound quality at lower bit rates, broad compatibility.

Limitations: Quality degradation in multiple generations of compression.

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)

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Usage: Professional Profile (shot with DSLR Camera), Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: Uncompressed audio format, typically used for high-quality recordings.

Benefits: High sound quality, lossless.

Limitations: Large file sizes, less efficient for storage and streaming.

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)

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Usage: Optional for scenarios requiring lossless compression.

Characteristics: Lossless audio codec, compresses audio without loss of quality.

Benefits: Retains original audio quality, smaller file sizes than WAV.

Limitations: Less universally supported compared to WAV and AAC.

3D Formats

OBJ (Wavefront Object)

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Usage: Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: Standard 3D format, supports geometry, texture maps, and material properties.

Benefits: Widely supported in 3D modeling software, simple and efficient for static models.

Limitations: Does not support complex animations or detailed shading.

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FBX (Filmbox)

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Usage: Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: Versatile format for 3D models, supports animations, textures, and materials.

Benefits: Suitable for complex models and animations, widely used in VR, AR, and game development.

Limitations: Larger file sizes, more complex to work with.

GLTF 2.0 (GL Transmission Format)

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Usage: Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: Efficient format for transmitting 3D models over the web, supports PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials.

Benefits: Compact, efficient for web applications, supports modern 3D features.

Limitations: Newer format, may have less support in older software.

GLB (Binary GLTF)

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Usage: Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: Binary version of GLTF 2.0, contains all assets in a single file for ease of use.

Benefits: Simplifies transmission and storage, supports the same features as GLTF 2.0.

Limitations: Slightly larger file sizes than GLTF due to binary encoding.

VRM (Virtual Reality Model)

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Usage: Studio Profile (360-degree DSLR Camera Rig)

Characteristics: 3D model format optimized for VR applications, supports facial expressions and animations.

Benefits: Tailored for virtual avatars, supports expressive features and animations.

Limitations: Primarily focused on VR applications, less flexible for other use cases.