This is the Darkest Material Known to Man

This is the Darkest Material Known to Man

Vantablack is a material that is so dark, our eyes can’t see any of its contours.

http://futurism.com/videos/darkest-material-known-man/

Image Deblurring using Inertial Measurement Sensors

This is a very impressive paper, the implications for video are large. 
   http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/imudeblurring/

Abstract

We present a deblurring algorithm that uses a hardware attachment coupled with a natural image prior to deblur images from consumer cameras. Our approach uses a combination of inexpensive gyroscopes and accelerometers in an energy optimization framework to estimate a blur function from the camera’s acceleration and angular velocity during an exposure. We solve for the camera motion at a high sampling rate during an exposure and infer the latent image using a joint optimization. Our method is completely automatic, handles per-pixel, spatially-varying blur, and out-performs the current leading image-based methods. Our experiments show that it handles large kernels – up to at least 100 pixels, with a typical size of 30 pixels. We also present a method to perform “ground-truth” measurements of camera motion blur. We use this method to validate our hardware and deconvolution approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that uses 6 DOF inertial sensors for dense, per-pixel spatially-varying image deblurring and the first work to gather dense ground-truth measurements for camera-shake blur.

Could quantum dots replace CCD and CMOS image sensors?

Quantum dots are tiny bits of semiconductor crystals with amazing optical properties that are determined not only by their material composition, but their size. Till now these have mostly been used for emitting light but can also receive light.

Silicon Valley startup InVisage has unveiled a potentially disruptive technology that might be a game changer for digital photography. Industry analysts are understandably intrigued by this quantum dot technology and its potential to displace the mighty CMOS image sensor in future cameras. Among other things, InVisage claims that quantum films offer four times the sensitivity as CMOS images sensor yet are less expensive to manufacture.

Quantum film threatens to replace CMOS image chips

Just as film was displaced by silicon chips, so now quantum film threatens to replace CMOS image chips by responding electrically to light instead of by changing its chemical composition.


See:

• http://www.invisageinc.com/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_dot
• http://www.oled-info.com/introduction-quantum-dots-interview-qd-visions-cto

NEW Tech: Biomimetics Display / MEMS-based Reflective Display

I guess that's what to call it, even the company Mirasol that developed it seems to lack a good name for the technology.

It can rival E-ink and Kent display the cholesteric LCD technology also commonly referred to as E-paper in terms of power efficiently.

"Qualcomm’s mirasol display technology is based on a reflective technology called IMOD (Interferometric MODulation), with MEMS structures at its core. This MEMS–based innovation is both bistable, meaning it is both extremely low power, and highly reflective, meaning the display itself can be seen even in direct sunlight.

By studying and mimicking nature’s processes and structures – a field of study called biomimetics – Qualcomm engineers have developed the nature-inspired mirasol display.

Humans view the world by sensing the light reflecting from various surfaces. As a result, a reflected image, from paper for instance, is more appealing and easier to view for the human eye, compared to a backlit image. Because of human perception, and mirasol displays efficient use of reflected light, the future of mobile devices is now."



Here is the link: Mirasol display

Here are the White Papers that were in there Press Kit, broken out from the HUGE zip file they had. It's a terrible web site.

Color Pixel Optimization 368K
Competitive_Display_Technologies  687K
Energy_Metrics 358K
Operating_Principles_IMOD_Drive 491K
Tech_Overview 665K
Value_Proposition 611K

I tried contacting then and they have not yet gotten back to me.

Hologram video-calling technology could be found in homes ‘within next five years’

FROM : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Holograms – the mainstay of science fiction films – could become a regular fixture in our living rooms within the next five years, according to industry experts.

By Claudine Beaumont Last Updated: 6:08PM GMT 06 Feb 2009

Soon, entire houses could be designed around the idea of having a ‘viewing room’ with high-speed internet access and a display screen to allow virtual face-to-face conversations between people.

While hologram technology is nothing new, technical constraints have meant that until now, hologram appearances have had to be pre-recorded. But now, thanks to improvements in the speed and stability of broadband internet connections and video compression technology, ‘live’ holograms are able to converse with one another in real time.

“This is cutting-edge stuff,” said Ian O’Connell, director of Musion, a company that is pioneering the use of live hologram technology. “One of the main uses we envisage is celebrity cameos at big conferences or concerts,” he said. “Prince Charles famously appeared by hologram at a conference, pre-recorded. This technology would allow him to appear live, and take questions from the audience.

“And a number of musicians we’re talking to want to see this technology used to provide live cameo performances from stars at their concerts.”

Mr O’Connell also said that holograms could be used for distance learning projects, or as part of education programmes in developing nations.

However, hologram technology doesn’t come cheap. Anyone wanting to carry out live hologram broadcasts will need to be connected to a fast, next-generation broadband internet network with a minimum guaranteed constant speed of 20 megabits per second. In addition, people will also need a screening room with compatible lighting and video technology, which costs in the region of £100,000 to install, as well as a display screen for viewing the holograms on, priced at around £150,000.

Nonetheless, Mr O’Connell believes more consumer-focused versions of hologram technology will be a mainstay in homes of the future, perhaps even within the next five years. “It’s going to necessitate a change in architectural design for residential homes for it to be embraced fully,” he said. “It’s going to need a room that can accommodate the screening and delivery technology.

“But I think we’re five years away from holograms being a ubiquitous, affordable tool.”