Monday, June 30, 2014

Gun company figures out how to shoot around corners using Google Glass

http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/04/trackingpoint-google-glass-rifle-sight-concept-video/

Real-life Call of Duty shooting? This 'smart rifle' uses Android-enabled goggles to fire crazy accurate shots without looking (video) | VentureBeat | Gadgets | by Tom Cheredar

http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/29/real-life-fps-this-smart-rifle-uses-android-enabled-goggles-to-fire-crazy-accurate-shots-without-looking-video/

Teardown: BWM 3 Series Camera

http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1322937



X-ray image of BMW 3 Series PN 66.53 924.351-01 rear view camera.
(Source: Teardown.com)


BMW 3 Series PN 66.53 924.351-01 rear view camera.
(Source: Teardown.com)

The 20 Best Movies Disappearing From Netflix Tomorrow

http://gizmodo.com/the-20-best-movies-disappearing-from-netflix-tomorrow-1598028333

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Image Sensors World: Google Tango Project Tablets Feature pmd's 3D technology

http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.com/2014/06/google-tango-project-tablets-feature.html

Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group (ATAP) is demonstrating their latest Project Tango Tablet Development Kits at Google I/O 2014 today. Now, for the first time, the tablets with integrated pmd-based depth sensors are shown publicly. Besides a motion tracking and a RGB camera the tablets utilize a pmd-based 3D ToF sensor to allow the tablet to sense its environment in space and motion. The ToF sensor used in the tablet has been jointly developed by Infineon and pmdtechnologies.

"We are proud that Google's ATAP group shows the world for the first time how our 3D technology is contributing to the addition of environmental awareness to mobile devices in a new and unique way. We also look forward to seeing what kind of amazing applications will be developed based on this tablet as the possibilities are endless in applications such as augmented reality, architecture, retail, gaming, and many more.", says Bernd Buxbaum, CEO of pmdtechnologies.


http://www.pressebox.com/pressrelease/pmdtechnologies-gmbh/Googles-ATAP-Group-shows-first-Tango-Tablets-at-Google-IO-live-with-pmds-3D-technology/boxid/686619



Google's ATAP Group shows first Tango Tablets

http://www.pmdtec.com/news_media/press_release/google_tango_tablet.php

GoPro's IPO priced at $24 per share: underwriter | Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/26/us-gopro-ipo-idUSKBN0F032G20140626

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

'Cardboard' is Google's attempt at an inexpensive VR headset

LG webOS TV emulator available for PC.

Ever wanted to try LG's webOS for smart televisions, but without buying an LG TV? Fret not, as LG has the answer for you - there's an emulator in the SDK. You can download the SDK from here, and opt to only install the emulator. This is clearly geared towards developers, so there's not a whole lot you can do once you load up the emulator (a VirtualBox image), but for those of you interested in webOS development this is very interesting.



Saturday, June 21, 2014

HEVC , H265 Technical Overview


January 25, 2013, the ITU announced the completion of the first stage approval of the H.265 video codec standard and in the last 1 year several vendors/entities have started to work on the first implementations of H.265 encoders and decoders. Theoretically HEVC is said to be from 30 to 50% more efficient than H.264 (especially at higher resolutions) but is it really that simple ? 

Read the article:
http://sonnati.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/h265-part-i-technical-overview/


Aditional info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding

HEVC defines a “low delay” configuration capable of low latency operation, it's unclear what will be sacrified.  

 In general, HEVC decoders are expected to have 2-3 times the computational complexity of AVC decoders, and HEVC encoders are expected to have up to 10 times the computational complexity of AVC encoders.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Kickstarter: EyeSpeak - Eye tracking augmented reality glasses that revolutionize the hands free interface.


This looks like a cool project. 
  • Epson Moverio BT - 200 - Augmented reality glasses with the possibility of adding prescription lens through a insert setting and two UV shades for added contrast;
  • Eye tracking micro camera;
  • Processing unit;
  • Speaker;
  • Microphone;
  • Controller;
  • Battery.



Voxelo | Voxelogram , free view point video player

http://voxelogram.com/en/voxelo/



Voxelo™ is a Free-Viewpoint Video player for Windows, which enables you to watch full 3D video content of real captured scenes. While traditional 2D video is restricted to the viewpoint of the recording camera, Free-Viewpoint Video allows you to freely choose your viewpoint of the scene during playback.

Ostendo bringing realistic holograms to smartphones

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/3631868709001/ostendo-bringing-realistic-holograms-to-smartphones/#sp=show-clips

Excellent video clip of their technology.

See earlier post for more info:
  http://videotechnology.blogspot.com/2014/06/new-smartphone-chip-will-beam-high.html

Divemachine's 3D audio tech adds motion-tracking sound to VR headsets




http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/19/divemachine-3d-audio-vr-headsets/

http://www.genetec.co.jp/pdf/dive_machine_20140619.pdf

Amazon Fire Phone Uses 4 IR Cameras for 3D UI


This technology looks a lot like the Leap Motion but instead of two cameras, they are using three.


The Verge, Mashable:

Amazon Fire Phone uses four front-facing IR cameras to create a 3D user interface: "Perhaps the most useful application shown off so far is simply tilting the phone to scroll through a web page like The Washington Post or to page through a Kindle book. Of course, we've seen other tilting features before and they've a lot to be desired, but Amazon's demo seems to make these features seem far better than previous attempts. The question will be whether or not the extra processing power and potential battery life drain to run these multiple cameras will be worth it."

Thursday, June 19, 2014

R/C Plane Flies with a Cockpit View




http://hackaday.com/2014/06/18/rc-plane-flies-with-a-cockpit-view/#more-124767

Oculus Rift + Head Tracking = The Ultimate Drone Experience







http://hackaday.com/2014/06/18/oculus-rift-head-tracking-the-ultimate-drone-experience/#more-124829

Sharp's 'Free-Form Displays' with Ultra-Thin Bezels Make New Display Shapes Possible - Mac Rumors


sharp_free_form_display

Conventional displays are rectangular because they require a minimal width for the bezel in order to accommodate the drive circuit, called the gate driver, around the perimeter of the screen's display area. With the Free-Form Display, the gate driver's function is dispersed throughout the pixels on the display area. This allows the bezel to be shrunk considerably, and it gives the freedom to design the LCD to match whatever shape the display area of the screen needs to be.  

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Virtual reality / Augmented reality META Pro 3-D Glasses

META Pro

Giant 3D holographic HD screen, 40 deg field of view (15 x Google Glass) Ultra high-end sleek light weight design. Independent pocket computing power.

Deliveries for orders made today start January 2015.

 $3,650.00


   

http://www.businessinsider.com/meta-3-d-glasses-2014-6

https://www.spaceglasses.com/

There’s a scientific reason your iPhone headphones are always tangled

http://sciencealert.com.au/features/20141706-25696-2.html

MK1 Studio Underbed Plasma HDTV lift




http://www.mk1studio.com/www.mk1studio.com/Welcome.html



Prices range from $13,000 to $20,000 + accessories and installation.




Here's the 4K IMAX Camera That's Going to Make 3D Movies Awesome Again



Here's the 4K IMAX Camera That's Going to Make 3D Movies Awesome Again

Monday, June 16, 2014

free optical motion tracking application for Windows





FreeTrack is a free optical motion tracking application for Microsoft Windows, released under the GNU General Public License. Its main function is inexpensive head tracking in computer games and simulations but can also be used for general computer accessibility, in particular hands-free computing. Tracking is sensitive enough that only small head movements are required so that the user's eyes never leave the screen.

Head motions are tracked with six degrees of freedom (6DOF), specifically; yaw, pitch, roll, left/right, up/down and forward/back. This is done by means of a video capture device, typically a webcam, which is placed in front of the user and tracks a rigid point model headpiece. This point model usually consists of infrared LEDs but can also be normal LEDs and even retroreflective material illuminated by a source of infrared light.

FreeTrack can output head tracking data directly using TrackIR, SimConnect and FSUIPC interfaces, programs that support these interfaces are regarded as having FreeTrack support. General input devices can also be emulated, specifically mouse, keyboard, and joystick (via PPJoy).


Free Rendor app aims to turn smartphones into 3D scanners.




Sneak Peek! from Replica Labs on Vimeo.

Single camera on a cell phone, providing 3D rendering. Interested in getting it first? Sign up for our closed beta test here: rendor.co/#beta-sign-up 

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20140614-rendor-app-aims-to-turn-smartphones-into-3d-scanners.html

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Drone Knocked Down at Staples Center During LA Kings Stanley Cup Celebra...

Beware videographers, before using a drone to film an audience make sure you have an MC or someone that's communicating to get the crowds cooperation.





It's because of things like this that Free View Point video will ultimately dominate.


Video Editing Co. Magisto Shifts Focus to Business Customers - Venture Capital Dispatch - WSJ

Friday, June 13, 2014

Curved CCDs from Andanta




As Sony presents its curved CMOS sensors, one has to mention that Olching, Germany-based Andanta has first shown its commercially available curved CCDs in 2012. The 2013-dated document presents cylindrically curved FSI devices as standard products, while the spherical ones available on request: The company says: "*The curvature of the image sensor can be designed as a one-dimensional cylindrical curvature or as a two-dimensional spherical curvature (convex or concave). As part of a customized project, scientific front illuminated 4k x 4k (16 Mpixels) - image sensors with convex and ... more »


Sunday, June 08, 2014

Duo3D AudioSight - 3D depth mapping


3D depth mapping announcement comes from Duo3D presenting AudioSight - a software-based solution turning stereo camera into a depth mapping device.

http://duo3d.com/


Youtube video 




http://duo3d.com/product/duo-mini-lv1

They have a dual camera board that does board level  3D sensing utilizing stereo vision, ready to work out of the box supporting a wide range of accessories and configurations. $200 USD



Google's Project Tango using Mantis Vision's Structured Light 3D Camera


Israel based Mantis Vision confirms that its MV4D 3D camera is used in Google's Project Tango tablet.

Mantis Vision camera consists of flash projector hardware components and includes structured light-based depth sensing algorithms like PrimeSense technology used in the Microsoft Kinect and now owned by Apple. PrimeSense is also Israel based.


Amihai Loven, CEO, Mantis Vision said:
"3D represents a major paradigm shift for mobile. We haven't seen a change this significant since the introduction of the camera-phone. MV4D allows developers to deliver 3D-enabled mobile devices and capabilities to the world,"
 "This partnership with Google offers Mantis Vision the flexibility to expand quickly and strategically. It will fuel adoption and engagement directly with consumer audiences worldwide. Together, we are bringing 3D to the masses."

Johnny Lee, Technical Product Lead at Google said:
"We are excited about working with partners, such as Mantis Vision, as we push forward the hardware and software technologies for 3D sensing and motion tracking on mobile devices,"

Sony shows (and tells) us why 4K on a phone isn't crazy

http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/21/sony-xperia-z2-4k/

Looks like 4K cell phone cameras are here, but I have not found anyone making a cell phone 4K display yet.

This is something the VR world needs like the Oculus Rift and Samsung an other face mounted screens based HMD's.




Saturday, June 07, 2014

SkySapience Hovermast

http://www.skysapience.com/products/the-hovermast-100

Sky Sapience's HoverMast-100, tethered hovering machine,
Rising to heights of up to 50 meters within 15 seconds it is secured by a cable, serving as a power supply and wideband data link. The stabilized platform is capable of carrying any payload of up to 6 kg.

The HoverMast is able to host a large variety of payloads such as CCD/IR cameras, radars, laser designators, relays, cellular antennas, and hyperspectral sensors.



A Sidewalk Disappearing Act


Good article on how Google is using image processing of multiple camera views to remove people from Google map images. 

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/420187/a-sidewalk-disappearing-act/


This is also know as diminished Reality: 


This can be done to live Full HD  images in real time, so you can't trust your CCTV cameras from any group with this level of technology that could be done for $99 of off the shelf chips. 



Bot & Dolly - Video Mapping


Box by Bot & Dolly - Video Mapping

Box explores the synthesis of real and digital space through projection-mapping on moving surfaces. The short film documents a live performance, captured entirely in camera. 

Bot & Dolly produced this work to serve as both an artistic statement and technical demonstration. It is the culmination of multiple technologies, including large scale robotics, projection mapping, and software engineering. We believe this methodology has tremendous potential to radically transform theatrical presentations, and define new genres of expression.

Find out exactly how "Box" was created in our exclusive behind the scenes video: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL6...

http://www.botndolly.com/box



Box by Bot & Dolly | Behind the Scenes


Published on Oct 1, 2013 A behind the scenes look at Box, Bot & Dolly's wildly popular latest live performance film which documents a first-ever live synchronized performance using 3D projection mapping, robots, and actors.D projection mapping, robots, and actors.

Thursday, June 05, 2014

The PhoneStation uses your smartphone as a head-mounted display




View Phone Technology, an obscure Taiwanese company, has a head-mounted 3D display that puts content from your phone directly before your eyes. Named the PhoneStation converts video to 3D, letting you use any handset to stream movies and TV shows directly from YouTube.

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

U.S. Spies Summon Star Wars for 3-D Hologram Displays | Danger Room | WIRED

http://www.wired.com/2012/08/iarpa-holograms/

New smartphone chip will beam high-definition holograms as early as 2015





http://ostendo.com/press/wsj.php

http://ostendo.com/

Ostendo, then your next handset could be capable of just that. Thanks to breakthroughs by the Californian display startup, 5,000ppi projectors the size of Tic Tacs 

5000 ppi is 5um pixel size which is typical for DLP displays today. 

Solid State Light (SSL) based display technologies, Not sure what that means.

Quantum Photonic Imager?

The present invention relates to emissive imager devices comprising a monolithic semiconductor arrays of multicolor laser emitters that can be used as an image sources in digital projection systems.

https://www.google.com/patents/US20130141895
Directional light modulation, 3D displays, emissive micro displays, 2D/3D autostereoscopic switchable displays.

A Sidewalk Disappearing Act | MIT Technology Review

Monday, June 02, 2014

ImmerVision | The 360° Video Standard

https://www.immervisionenables.com/

360° Panomorph optics

Valve's simplified VR prototype ditches the QR code-laden room

http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/02/valves-simplified-vr-prototype/

Novafora Shuts Down, Selling Transmeta IP

http://www.pehub.com/2009/07/novafora-shuts-down-selling-transmeta-ip/

Earlier this year, video processor startup Novafora Inc. boldly acquired publicly-listed Transmeta Corp. for $255 million. A few months later, company CEO Naki Rakib and VC backer Robert Genisier (Vertex Capital) rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange. Yesterday, the San Jose, Calif.-based company shut its doors.

Sunday, June 01, 2014

Fiberio tabletop touchscreen can read fingerprints

Mobile device and computer security are of serious concern in today’s world (just ask the NSA). Leaving these devices in public can lead to a host of problems including unwanted access to bank accounts, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, and unwanted guests at both work and home.
Currently there are security measures in place that can keep unwanted visitors out of your digital world, the most basic being passwords, which can easily be hacked. Other more advanced methods of security include retina and fingerprint scanners that identify a particular user to grant access to sensitive materials. These systems are standalone devices that were not typically integrated into any system, mobile device, or touchscreen until now.
Researchers from the Hasso Plattner Institute in Germany have developed a touchscreen that is capable of identifying the fingerprints of its users. The problem with incorporating a fingerprint reader is that most fingerprint readers (or biometrics) rely on light to capture the unique patterns on people’s fingers, and most touchscreens can't sense light, but rather function using capacitive or resistive technology that senses pressure when touched.
The team, led by Christian Holz and Patrick Baudisch, developed the Fiberio tabletop touchscreen in an effort to combine both technologies together for an ultra-secure interface that can be used by the public. The touchscreen uses a new screen material known as large fiber optic plate, which is comprised of millions of 3mm-long optical fibers bundled together in the form of a platter. This both diffuses projected light and reflects it at the same time, making it ideal as a touchscreen with the reflection needed to read fingerprints.
The screen itself sits atop an aluminum stand with a projector housed underneath the screen itself. An IR (infrared) illuminator is housed adjacent to the projector, which illuminates the user’s fingerprints and reflects the images to a high-resolution infrared camera that identifies not only finger/hand location, but hovering objects, as well. The screen has the potential to be used in myriad places and projects that require a certain level of security.
The team envisions the technology could be used in banking institutions for approving loans (requiring more than just a signature) or used as tables in coffee shops, allowing patrons to answer emails, surf the Web, or hone their writing skills without the need for passwords.