New augmented reality system at Digital Content Expo 2010

Just when I thought I was finished reporting on realtime digital video alteration withdiminished reality, I see this.

This RT2 chara AR Project was on display at the Digital Content Expo 2010, and it is a very interesting augmented reality experience that has to have three studios in three different places to make some interesting videos. You can see them after the jump.

It looks like the person wearing a motion capture suit (which looks like it is from the Kick-Ass movie) is at the convention itself, while more technology for these augmented reality effects are located elsewhere. This comes in handy with the lady with the jellyfish.

My Source calls this some sort of possible holodeck, but I think that is jumping the gun a little bit. I mean, isn’t the point of a holodeck supposed to be something where a user immerses him or herself in some unreal place? However, this looks like a way for others to see someone in another environment, or record themselves somewhere else, I suppose.

So as it is, I really can only see this being used in Hollywood for special effects, really. Motion capture has been used for a lot of CG movies, and I suppose anything that can improve on those would be worth it.

Joby’s GorillaPod adds video …

Joby's GorillaPod Video is an ideal accessory to the pocket camcorder.

Joby’s Gorillapod line can turn just about anything into a camera platform. But up until recently, it hasn’t given much other than static ability to camcorders. Now, Joby has theGorillapod Video, and let me tell you, it’s the icing on the cake.

I had a chance to test out the Gorillapod Video, and essentially, the foundation isn’t any different. Users still have those three legs with over two dozen leg joints that bend and rotate 360°. This gives it the ability to wrap around like about anything and turn it into a camera platform. The legs also come with strong, heavy duty magnetic feet which can adhere the Gorillapod to a metal surface.

But above the legs, the Gorillapod Video really comes into it’s own. In addition to the stock quick release lock ring, the Gorillapod Video has a machined steel ball joint which allows for 360 degree panning, as well as a metal handle that allows for 135 degree panning and tilting. So now, the Gorillapod has three dimensions and gives pocket video fans and YouTubers more sophisticated options for shooting video and making it steady.

The Gorillapod Video can work with just about any pocket camcorder, and with the right adapter case, even an iPhone can be screwed onto it. It’s a tad over 7″ long, so it can fit inside a small camera case, fanny pack or purse for those on the go, weighs less than 3 ounces, and sells for just under $30.

If you travel a lot or just plain on the go, the Gorillapod Video is an ideal accessory to add to your pocket camcorder.

  

Barnes & Noble NOOK ebook reader (WiFi + 3G)[B&W]

Product Description Choose an eBook using the beautiful color touch screen, then watch it appear instantly on the E Ink® display, where text appears as crisp as a printed page. The 16-level gray scale display offers great contrast with no glare or backlight. Choose from five font sizes so you can read with ease.

Velocity Micro Cruz Reader, Black (R101)

The next generation of eReaders. "Cruz" through books, magazines, and newspapers on this revolutionary device's crystal-clear, full-color, 7-inch display. Use the built-in Borders bookstore app to download and read over 2 million eBooks in a light and convenient package. At just under one pound, the 0.6-inch-thick Cruz Reader goes everywhere you do and fits perfectly in one hand. Staying up-to-date with email and social networks is just a Wi-Fi hotspot away, thanks to the Cruz Reader's 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and full browser support. You can even load your Cruz Reader up with all your favorite music and movies, using the included 4GB SD card. An affordable touchscreen color eReader. USB and SD slots for memory expansion. Download remarkable content, astonishing applications, and amazing games. Full-Color Touchscreen Display The Cruz Reader features a seven-inch (diagonal) touchscreen with 800 x 600 pixel resolution, ideal for viewing eBooks and eMagazines, Web pages, and movies. The built-in, tilt-activated accelerometer will flip the page display from portrait to landscape and back when you turn the device. Android-Based OS The Cruz Reader and Cruz Tablet are built using the Android OS, an easy-to-use, powerful, and reliable operating system from the team at Google. Designed for touchscreen devices like the Cruz, Android helps you easily manage your programs with a vastly intuitive interface. eBook Reader Pack dozens of books for a weeklong getaway without weighing down your suitcase. The Cruz Reader offers access to over 2 million eBooks via the included Borders eBook library portal application. Velocity's own Cruz Market also provides eBook content, and is a one-stop shop for downloading apps and videos from a broad array of content and providers, all in one market. Support is provided for ePub, PDF, TXT, PDB, and HTML reader files. Enjoy Your Other Media Bring your favorite movies on a plane without the hassle of a portable DVD player or laptop, with support for MPEG-4 and H.264 video formats. Listen to your favorite tunes in MP3, WMA, AAC, or WAV formats. Or share pictures from your last vacation with JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP support. Stay Connected with 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and Full Browser Support Put the power of the Internet right in your hands. Stay connected with email and social networks even while on the road. Download remarkable content, astonishing applications, and amazing games. Slim and Stylish Velocity has designed and refined the Cruz Reader to be as stylish as it is functional. Get ready to attract attention with the sleek, slim, and stylish Cruz Reader. Add Storage Capacity The Cruz Reader offers 256 MB internal storage, expandable via both USB and SD card slots. A 4 GB micro SD card is included with the device. Built-in Applications The Cruz Reader includes a built-in dictionary, notepad, calendar, alarm clock, contacts, games, and other useful apps. User-Replaceable Battery An extended life, user-replaceable lithium-ion battery is included, offering up to 10+ hours of life on a single charge (24+ hours on standby). Product Support Each Cruz is backed by Velocity Micro's expert US-based support, for extra peace of mind. What's in the Box Cruz Reader, docking station, AC adapter, carrying pouch, user's guide, and 4 GB SD card. Product Description The Velocity Micro Cruz Reader - the world’s first affordable touch screen color ereader. Cruz through books, magazines, and newspapers on this revolutionary device’s crystal clear 7” display. Plays video, music, and browses the web in full color. Backed by Velocity Micro’s expert US-based support. The Cruz Reader to be as stylish as it is functional. At just under one pound, he .6” thick Cruz Reader goes everywhere you do and fits perfectly in one hand. Get ready to attract attention with the sleek, slim, and stylish Cruz Reader. Get the Velocity Micro Cruz Reader today!

Microsoft’s plan for shape-shifting touchscreens

One of the problems with touchscreens is that they are way too…flat. That, and there is often very little tactile feedback. If I want to type, I want to feel physical keys underneath me. That way, if I hit a “g” instead of an “f” key, I can feel it. I don’t want to have to look at my text to find out that I screwed up.

According to my Source, Microsoft filed a patent last year that “details a light-induced shape-memory polymer display screen. In a nutshell, that means a touch screen that has a real texture and tactile feedback to it, making people feel as if they’re touching an actual object”.

This screen would be coated with certain polymers that can change and hold their shape, provided different wavelengths of ultraviolet light hit them from below.

You will note in the image this particular ripple effect at the touch of a finger, but I am looking forward to the day when the user can take the surface of a Microsoft Surface and shape it as if it were Play-Doh.

As it is, I’m not certain how physical shapes such as a keyboard could be made in this shape-shifting touchscreen. I’m going to leave that question to the experts that clearly have the know-how to make something like this, really.

Source

Document Extractor – a monitor, printer, scanner concept we can only hope for

Every now and then something comes along that wows you with its practicality, something that just feels right. Something that makes so much sense, you have to wonder how it took so long for someone to come up with it in the first place.

The Document Extractor, brainchild of  Byeong Min Choe, marries your printer, scanner and monitor into one potentially perfect device. The monitor, has a touch screen interface that allows you to select and crop the area of the page you wish to print, and the selected area will print from the back to the front of the device, dropping from your computer screen into reality.

Scanning is a similar process in which the user is able to feed the document to be scanned up into the device and Voila! It appears on your display as if you just feed it up behind the screen. The designer reminds us that the Document Extractor is not simply a space saving device, it will also save us time and resources, like ink and toner.

Whatever the benefits of such a device may be to you, we can only hope that someone will actually step up to the plate and create one of these that we can actually buy. Hello Mr. Jobs? are you listening?

Source: www.yankodesign.com

R.A.T.9 wireless professional gaming mouse from Mad Catz begins to ship

Gamers who take their hobby seriously will surely have at least one or two pieces of hardware that is of high quality in their quest to be the best, if not in the world, then at least among their clique. Of course, we know that latent ability and talent plays a very huge role here as we are pretty sure if you hand Fatal1ty a standard issue Microsoft mouse to go up against you in a game of Quake with the latest Razer, you will still have a can of whoop ass opened on you.

I have always maintained that gaming peripherals are a two-eged sword, if you win more games, you can always cite your victories to superior hardware, and if you lose despite having the best hardware, it will definitely be a big blow to your ego since you will be left wondering whether gaming is the right career path for you. Mad Catz joins the gaming fray with their latest offering, the R.A.T.9 wireless professional gaming mouse that has started to ship.

It will join the already available Cyborg R.A.T 7, 5 and 3 gaming mice, where you will be able to enjoy high performance 2.4GHz wireless technology that delivers an estimated latency of less than 1 millisecond. It will run off a unique rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that is capable of delivering up to 9 hours of game play, where the included stylish desktop charging unit will juice up your battery pack as well as hold another 42 grams of removable weights to suit your gaming style. Each purchase will include a couple of ‘hot swappable’ battery packs, letting you get your game on for at least 18 hours straight.

Don’t worry about stuff like RSI with the Cyborg R.A.T.9 wireless gaming mouse – it was specially designed with comfort in mind, boasting similar interchangeable palm rest, adjustable pinkie grips, and adjustable length, width and height settings as with its predecessors. Compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP machines, the R.A.T.9 wireless professional gaming mouse can be yours for $149.99

.

Hands on with the Looxcie

What you are seeing to your left is not a Bluetooth headset, but a camera. This is the Looxcie (pronounced Look-See) and it made a prominent appearance last night at Pepcom’s MobileFocus, an event-within-an-event at CTIA Fall 2010.

Looxcie is a wearable camcorder designed to fit on the ear, and is always gathering video footage. It is linked via Bluetooth to your smartphone, and you can use your phone as a viewfinder. I have a few pictures of it after the jump so you get an idea of what it is like.

If a user wants to “capture a moment” on Looxcie, then he or she simply presses a button on the device itself, and it saves a clip of the last thirty seconds. With the smartphone app, the user can view, edit, and even share this “Looxcie moment” on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

I think that devices like the Looxcie could be the start of a new movement of online life in which all of our lives will be recorded and shared. It’s like Looxcie could turn everyone into a reality show where the user is the director and the star.

Looxcie should be available in the holiday catalog of Neiman Marcus and amazon.com for a suggested retail price of $199.99.

Samsung has new firmware for NX10 camera

Samsung isn’t famous yet when it comes to digital cameras, but that doesn’t mean the South Korean consumer electronics giant isn’t trying its level best to break into the market. Their NX10 mirrorless camera was a pretty good start compared to its range of entry level consumer digital cameras, and we’re stoked to see the company announce the availability of a firmware upgrade for the NX10, bumping up the version to 1.20. Just what does firmware upgrade 1.20 bring to the table? For starters, we are looking at compatibility with Samsung’s innovative new i-Function lens technology, providing photographers as well as avid shutterbugs with an avenue to control the camera easily via the lens itself. More on this magical experience in the extended post.

Basically, with firmware upgrade 1.20 installed, NX10 camera owners are able to control the camera’s settings conveniently and intuitively from the lens itself. This is definitely something new since it isn’t possible at all on other camera lines at the moment, although things might just change in the future. Conventional lenses, needless to say, are passive in controlling camera settings, but the special i-Function Lens is one proactive lens which will communicate with the camera body itself. Apart from that, the NX10 will also deliver total image control with a remarkably easy way to control camera settings, leading even beginners to obtain quick image capturing, while being provided with customized settings optimized for the lens being used.

Samsung has also taken the initiative to ensure all NX system lenses launched from now on will feature the i-Function capability. This convenient one-touch button is capable of activating common shooting controls including aperture, shutter speed, ISO and white balance, translating to an easier and quicker configuration whenever you’re out capturing your subject. Whenever the button is pressed, the shooting parameter will be displayed on screen via a graphical cue. Rotating the manual focus ring on the lens will change the said value. In addition, firmware upgrade 1.20 also delivers a speedier AF speed on the camera. Makes you want to run out and purchase that NX10 now, eh?

Canon Cross Media Station can charge cameras and download photos

What you are seeing here is Canon’s Cross Media Station. It is technology that is probably years before public release, but it does some pretty amazing things.To start, it is a wireless charger for a camera. I have seen wireless charging stations like the Powermat and Wildchargerbefore, and this thing has an indicator to show when your Canon camera has the correct amount of juice.

Another feature is its ability to sort out pictures on an HDTV. You can see in the videoafter the jump a spokesperson placing a camera on the station itself, and getting a patchwork quilt of pictures.

I can only assume that this feature can be used for fast-loading digital image files to a computer as well. After all, the video shows certain pictures being sent to certain friends.

You will note how the spokesperson in the video has a remote control, which I can only assume is a standard feature for this Cross Media Station. I can understand this, as the unit is connected to a television via HDMI. However, if this were connected to a PC, couldn’t we use the mouse in lieu of a remote control?

As I mentioned before, this device is a prototype, but I can imagine this device taking the place of most darkrooms. Do darkrooms even exist anymore?