DARPA has released more details on the
ARGUS-IS, a 1.8-gigapixel camera that will be attached to unmanned
drones to spot targets as small as six inches at an altitude of
20,000 feet. The camera – which is one of the highest resolution
systems in the world – can view ten square miles of terrain at a
time and zoom in on targets with surprising clarity.
The camera uses 368 five-megapixel camera sensors aimed through a
telescopic array to pick out birds in flight and humans on the move
on the Earth’s surface. ARGUS stands for Autonomous Real-Time Ground
Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System.
Showing posts with label Camera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camera. Show all posts
Feb 8, 2013
Feb 1, 2013
First Down Line
The big game will be played this weekend so
I thought it might be interesting to review the technology behind
the lines that TV adds to the field for down markers. Before the
game begins, technicians make a digital 3-D model of the field,
which is not flat. It is subtly curved with a crown in the middle to
help water flow away. Each field is unique.
Technicians also put together two separate color palettes before each game. One palette contains the colors for the field’s turf to automatically be converted into yellow (or whatever color is used) when the line is drawn onto the field. All other colors, such as player and official uniforms, shoes, the ball, etc., go into the other palette. Colors that appear on this second palette are never converted. If a player’s foot is situated on the line, everything around it will turn yellow, but not his foot.
Each camera used for the game contains sensors that record its location, tilt, pan, zoom and transmit this data to the graphics computers. These sensors allow the computers to process exactly where each camera is within the 3-D model, along with the perspective of each camera so the lines can be added to the picture.
One version requires a four-man crew and costs about $25,000 per game to project the lines onto the field.
Technicians also put together two separate color palettes before each game. One palette contains the colors for the field’s turf to automatically be converted into yellow (or whatever color is used) when the line is drawn onto the field. All other colors, such as player and official uniforms, shoes, the ball, etc., go into the other palette. Colors that appear on this second palette are never converted. If a player’s foot is situated on the line, everything around it will turn yellow, but not his foot.
Each camera used for the game contains sensors that record its location, tilt, pan, zoom and transmit this data to the graphics computers. These sensors allow the computers to process exactly where each camera is within the 3-D model, along with the perspective of each camera so the lines can be added to the picture.
One version requires a four-man crew and costs about $25,000 per game to project the lines onto the field.
Jun 29, 2012
Secret Camera Symbol
Most cameras have this strange symbol
imprinted somewhere on the case. If you read the camera's manual,
you know what it is but if you didn't, that circle with a line drawn
through it marks exactly where the sensor of the camera is located.
It is called the 'film plane mark' and is helpful for people who take macro shots. Knowing exactly where the sensor plane (or film plane or focal plane) is inside the camera's body let's photographers know the exact distance between their subject and the film plane.
It is called the 'film plane mark' and is helpful for people who take macro shots. Knowing exactly where the sensor plane (or film plane or focal plane) is inside the camera's body let's photographers know the exact distance between their subject and the film plane.
Jun 8, 2011
What's in a Name
George Eastman, a high school dropout and the founder of Kodak loved the letter "K." He tested several combinations of words starting and ending with "K" while trying to come up with a name for his camera and film company name. Kodak was registered as a trademark in 1888 and the Eastman Kodak company was founded in 1892. Eastman believed the right name would be memorable, would not resemble anything else, and could not be mispronounced. He decided it must have the letter "K" because he believed the letter was strong and incisive. It was the first company to put its name and look into a symbol.
He started out making glass photographic plates and moved into paper film, then to make a camera, "As convenient as a pencil" so he could sell the film. The original building where he started is still part of the world headquarters in Rochester, New York. A maze of buildings, spanning blocks, that are all connected to each other. I became lost in those buildings more than a few times while consulting with Kodak.
He started out making glass photographic plates and moved into paper film, then to make a camera, "As convenient as a pencil" so he could sell the film. The original building where he started is still part of the world headquarters in Rochester, New York. A maze of buildings, spanning blocks, that are all connected to each other. I became lost in those buildings more than a few times while consulting with Kodak.
Oct 1, 2009
Bokeh Shapes
These are shapes of light in the blurred background of photos. Interesting shapes can be achieved by using a bokeh filter over the camera lens. Bokeh is a photography term derived from the Japanese word for blurred. 
The Bokeh Filter is a simple filter that clips onto the end of your lens. This filter blocks out pieces of light that cause the bokeh (blur) in your images to take the shape of the filter. Cool stuff and they cost only ten dollars.
The Bokeh Filter is a simple filter that clips onto the end of your lens. This filter blocks out pieces of light that cause the bokeh (blur) in your images to take the shape of the filter. Cool stuff and they cost only ten dollars.
Aug 13, 2009
Cool Camera Projector
Nikon is introducing the first combined digital camera and built-in projector and it should be available in September 09.
The Coolpix S1000pj has a 12.1 MP high-resolution capacity with a 5x zoom lens, a 2.7-inch LCD display, wireless remote and a 10 lumens projector that will display 5 to 40-inch images of pictures with sound. The display distance is 10-inches to 6 feet.
The image resolutions include a 4000 x 3000 High setting with a range of settings for PCs, TVs, wide-screen displays and normal displays.
Included in the package is a stand, wireless remote, rechargeable Li-On battery for about 220-shots or 1-hour projector mode, a battery charger, USB cable, audio/video cable, wrist strap and CD-ROM software suite. A SD/SDHC slot is included, but the memory card and AC adapter is optional.
Nikon believes size does matter. It measures 4-inches by 2.5-inches with a depth of 0.9-inches and weighs 5.5-ounces. It is light-weight, highly portable and literally turns on a dime to project images on a screen or wall. Price will be about $500. Want to know what to get me for Christmas?
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