Technabob » 3 d

Sony Bravia Xbr Lx900 Tvs Get Face Detection to Adjust Image Quality

Technabob — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:01:26 +0000

The new Sony BRAVIA XBR-60LX900, XBR-52LX900, XBR-46LX900 and XBR40LX900 have a feature I haven’t come across on any other set yet. These sets include a new feature called “Intelligent Presence Sensor,” which automatically detects faces of people viewing the set, and optimizes the picture for their viewing pleasure. Under the bright lights of CES, it was hard for me to tell exactly how well this would work in a real-world situation, but it’s an interesting concept.

In addition to being able to adjust image quality based on viewing location, the sets can also be set to prevent kids from sitting too close to the TV, automatically blacking out the screen if they get too close.

TheLX900 sets offer a bright LED edge-lit 1080p LCD display, and include full support for watching 3-D programming, both will ship with a pair of Full HD active-shutter 3-D glasses. The displays also include wireless internet access and 240Hz motionflow capability for keeping images smooth as silk.

All four models will ship sometime this Summer. You can sign up to be notified when the sets are available here. Prices haven’t been announced.

Faceid: Open Locked Doors With Your Face

Technabob — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:26 +0000

Imagine someday walking up to the front door of your home of office, and instead of whipping out your keys or RFID keycard, you stare into a facial recognition device that decides whether or not you’re really you. While this sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, this technology is real, and available today.

The FaceID system can store digital profiles for up to 500 unique faces, and use those to validate the identity of those who stare into its camera lenses. A pair of digitial cameras allows the FaceID system to recreate a 3-dimensional image of the individual’s face, and runs it through a face detection algorithm to match their face to its internal database. The 3-D images also prevent people from hacking in by just holding up a photo. It’s even smart enough to cope with irregularities in lighting conditions, and can even work in the dark.

Designed as both a replacement for timecard systems and a door security system, the FaceID claims a less than 0.0001% margin for error in its recognition algorithm. Not too shabby. With one of these in place, you won’t be able to hand your timecard to another employee to punch in for you ever again. Unless you cut their head off and carry it around with you, I suppose.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Keep in mind that the FaceID system doesn’t actually come with an electronic door lock, but provides a standard Wiegand interface for controlling security systems. You can find the FaceID system over at ChinaVasion for $447 (USD).

I wonder if thing can detect if you’re a Replicant or not?

Levelhead: Trippy Augmented Reality Game

Technabob — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:26:44 +0000

New Zealand digital artist Julian Oliver is working on a cool game that blends the electronic universe with the real world. His work-in-progress game called levelHead uses a series of cubes placed on a table top. Digital cameras and custom software sense the movements of the cubes and superimpose digital images of a tiny little 3-dimensional gameplay universe.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As you tilt each cube, the player climbs through the environment, moving in concert with the angles of the physical cube. The objective of the game is to move the cubes to help guide the digital player to the exit of each cube’s virtual environment. Some of the doorways lead to another cube, while other are dead ends that make you start all over. The whole interaction looks like a Michel Gondry video to me.

Oliver developed the game to run under Debian or Ubuntu Linux, and plans on releasing it as an open source project soon.