Posted on December 2nd, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: new, Products, Technology, l c d, useful technology, Screens, education.
![dark [640x480]](http://visualtechnology.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/dark640x480.jpg)
The Solar Light Cap won’t let you get caught in the dark
New Zealand-based company 2C is selling a range of solar powered LED caps that charge up during the day to provide light at night. All the energy gathering, light-emitting technology is located in the semi-flexible pre-bent beak of the caps including the solar panel and the NiMH battery used to store it.
The two LED’s on the beak of the Solar Light Cap project light at a downward angle up to six feet in front of the wearer, so it wont blind anyone you look at. Angling the cap upwards extends the range, with 2C saying the light can penetrate up to 10 meters (32 feet). The single button, also located on the underside of the beak, controls all the lighting functions. One press will turn the light on or off, while a double click cycles through different modes including a blinking mode and SOS mode. Pressing and holding the button controls the dimming of the LEDs.
The cap initially takes about three days of daylight to reach a full charge, after which one day should be enough. A full charge will provide five hours of use on full beam or 36 hours on low beam. A special mode that turns off the cap before the battery drains completely ensures there is always something in reserve to provide short bursts of light with every press of the button until the power is finally exhausted.
The Solar Light Cap is available in a range of styles and colors, ranging in price from USD$39.90 to $44.90.
Via DVICE
Posted on December 2nd, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: Products, Technology, useful technology, Screens, events, media.
![eyeled [640x480]](http://visualtechnology.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/eyeled640x480.jpg)
You don’t need to work for the secret service or as a jet fighter pilot to appreciate the sheer convenience – and craftiness – of being able to grab hold of crucial information, without so much as lifting a finger or batting an eyelid. Students at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany are developing a pair of interactive data eyeglasses that can project an image onto the retina from an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) micro-display, making the image appear as if it’s a meter in front of the wearer. While similar headwear only throws up a static image, the students are working on eye-tracking technology that allows wearers, with just the movement of the eyeball, to scroll through information or move elements about.
While similar headwear – sometimes referred to as head-mounted displays (HMDs) – only throws up a static image, the students are working on eye-tracking technology that allows wearers, with just the movement of the eyeball, to scroll through information or move elements about.
The glasses are designed to provide information to wearers who don’t have their hands free to operate a keyboard or mouse.
Dr Michael Scholles, business unit manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) in Dresden, believes these devices have a ready-made application in the medical field where they could be used to quickly project vital patient information or medical imaging to doctors during a consultation or surgery.
Scholles also sees applications in the construction industry where the glasses could be used to project drawings or installation instructions.
As the image needs to outshine the ambient light to be seen clearly against changing and highly contrasting backgrounds, OLEDs have been used to produce a high-luminance micro-display.
While existing data glasses only display information, the German students are hoping to make the micro-display technology bi-directional and interactive, which will open up new uses, says Scholles. The eye-tracking device the students are working on - which is fitted to the hinge of the glasses - will enable users to influence the content projected by simply moving their eyes or fixing on certain points in the image.
New content can be displayed and menus can be scrolled through or picture elements shifted. According to Scholles, they have concentrated on making the glasses inexpensive as well as small and light – the system’s eye tracker and image reproduction integrated into the CMOS chip measure 19.3mm by 17mm.
David Greig
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: new, Products, Technology, more, not 24 hours, Screens, rear projection, education, corporative, events, media.
E/T/C are specialists in high power projection both in slide and video format and provide support with image creation and programming.
With the PIGI and Onlyview systems E/T/C have been projecting on site during world class events such as the Asian Games, the Olympics and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee at Buckingham Palace.
ETC has been specialising in producing stunning, large format projections onto buildings, interesting spaces and structures since 1994. These images can be produced using either slide projection, video projection or a mix of the two.
ETC’s work has been seen around the world. We have supplied image projection solutions for a range of different clients from state occasions through theatre, rock and roll and corporate clients. A sample of the events that we have worked on would include the Doha Asian Games, The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, London’s Official New Years Eve events, The Queens Golden Jubilee, Ford, Liverpool Culture Company, Renault, the BBC and the MTV Europe Awards
There is literally no size barrier to the images we can produce. We keep adding projectors until we have achieved the size you require. For the Sultan of Oman, we created an image 400m wide by 200m tall onto a mountain. However we are just as at home creating a one or two projector backdrop to a Rock show, or a three or for projector Son et Lumière onto a stately home.
Video First for London
New Year’s Eve Projections
Video was used for the first time to project giant images onto the 353 ft high Shell Building on the South Bank of the River Thames for the Mayor of London’s 2008-09 New Year’s Eve celebrations.
E/T/C London created a projection concept and suggested that they harness the flexibility and power of video for the first time on this event, on which E/T/C has worked for producers Jack Morton Worldwide for the last 5 years. With LG Electronics coming onboard as a new sponsor, they really wanted to up the production values, making the show something extra special and more spectacular this year.
Says E/T/C’s Ross Ashton, “It was another milestone in giant video projection for E/T/C London, and probably the UK’s largest New Year video installation to date as well as a great opportunity for us to move the company forward.”
E/T/C’s Richard Porter designed the technical installation, which utilised 24 Christie S+20K projectors, all rigged vertically, and run in 12 overlaid pairs. These covered a 12 zone grid – 3 wide and 4 high – measuring 55 metres wide by 110 tall on the river facing fascia of the building.
At 2888 x 5184 pixels, this offered far higher resolution than HD.
The projectors were positioned 150 metres away from the Shell Tower in a 12 metre tall purpose built structure, together with a complex E/T/C OnlyView® control system that was set up in an adjacent cabin, and operated by Richard Porter for the show.
The 30 minute looped show was programmed by Porter, assisted by Karen Monid, onto 18 OnlyView® media servers. Sixteen servers were used for visuals, while two ran a bespoke soundtrack including sponsors messages which were then broadcast to the public via a Delta Sound PA system.
Ross Ashton collaborated closely with Jack Morton’s Kate MacKay on the creation of the artwork.
The image files involved were massive, and the handling of this aspect alone required E/T/C London’s detailed expertise. BBH created the LG branding and a series of celebrity ‘talking heads’ with New Year greetings, featuring the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Dame Helen Mirren and others.
Another challenge was the installation of a preview monitor system, set up to show the client detailed and accurate show visualizations during the set up and programming period. E/T/C’s Paul Highfield came up with a very cost-effective video wall solution for this, using Dexion racking and bit of ingenuity!
The get-in commenced on the 27th December, with E/T/C engineers Robin Darraux, Patrice Lefevre and Glenn Jenkins. Jack Morton’s project manager was Jim Donald.
Projections kicked off at 8p.m. on New Year’s Eve as up to 400,000 revellers gathered in central London to await the rollover moment into 2009. A cool countdown clock comprising a burning fuse that snaked around the building as the minute-to-midnight moment approached was visualized by Ashton and produced in After Effects by Porter.
Posted on November 5th, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: new, Technology, more, Screens, 3 d, media, Home Theatre, Hometech Overview.
Futuresource predicts 3D TVs in 10% of households by 2012
PHYSICAL: Advanced 3D at-home usage, comparable in quality to today’s theatrical experience, will be realized gradually, with the first commercial 3D Blu-ray Disc releases expected no sooner than 2011, according to Futuresource Consulting.
A key obstacle to 3D at-home adoption is the current lack of technology standards ensuring that content will reliably play on all available 3D display devices. In the short-term, between 2009 and 2011, advanced 3D projects will be geared primarily for theatrical release.
Yet manufacturers will ramping for-home use as they extend their launch of 3D-ready TV sets. By 2012, about 10% of U.S. households will be equipped to view 3D programming on TVs, according to Futuresource. It’s likely that there will be a limited amount of 3D content delivered via video-on-demand to 3D sets.
“With over 200 million new TVs sold across the globe every year, the potential [for 3D] is huge, but the industry needs to overcome some serious obstacles in order to kick start and fully realize the revenue streams,” said Sarah Carroll, director of continuous services at Futuresource. “Most notably, technical and standards issues still need to be resolved. … And the current economic climate makes new investment in production and distribution a challenge.”
Yet Futuresource is optimistic that 3D at home is achievable and predicts 3D Blu-ray releases will start in 2011. The company projects that by 2015, U.S. 3D TV household penetration will jump to about 70%.
“Our probability modeling shows the permeation phase will kick in from 2011, where, among other initiatives, we’ll see new 3D movie releases on Blu-ray, remasters of classic blockbusters like Star Wars, The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings,” said Jim Bottoms, managing director of corporate development at Futuresource. “By 2012, more than 10% of U.S. and Japanese homes will be 3D-enabled, and Western Europe won’t be too far behind with 6% household penetration. Moving forward, a new generation of videogame consoles will begin to emerge, fully embracing 3D technologies.”
By Susanne Ault — Video Business
Posted on September 4th, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: Technology, Screens, 3 d, education.
BSkyB to launch Europe’s first 3D TV channel next year
Service will use standard Sky+ HD set-top boxes but will require new ‘3D ready’ television set and special glasses
BSkyB filiming the English National Ballet in 3D. The ballet was filmed using high-definition 3D cameras, which use two lenses to record separate footage for each eye. Viewers then wear special polarising glasses which give the impression the picture is in three dimensions. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images
BSkyB is to launch Europe’s first 3D TV channel offering movies, entertainment and sports programming in the UK next year.
The satellite broadcaster, which recently said that 3D TV could be a reality within several years, has stepped up its roll-out programme after a major boost in the numbers subscribers to its Sky+ HD set-top boxes, which are capable of broadcasting 3D services.
BSkyB, which has doubled the number of customers with Sky+ HD boxes in the last year to 1.31m, said that it will launch a channel offering 3D movies, entertainment and sport.
However, to watch 3D programming customers will also require a new “3D ready” TV set, which are expected to be on sale in the UK next year, and special glasses.
At a recent demonstration BSkyB used a Hyundai TV which retails at £2,500, although the broadcaster hopes that ultimately 3D TV sets will not cost much more than a standard HD plasma screen.
BSkyB also confirmed today that it will launch a “pull” video-on-demand service using the broadband capability in Sky+ HD boxes. Until now Sky has only been able to offer what is termed “push” VoD services – such as the Sky Anytime service – and the Sky+ personal video recorder.
The new “pull” service aims to broaden consumer choice by allowing programmes to be watched on-demand in the way other services, such as on cable operator Virgin Media’s TV plartform, offer extensive libraries of shows.
“3D is a genuinely ’seeing is believing’ experience [and] next year we will make our HD boxes work even harder for customers by launching Europe’s first 3D TV channel,” said Brian Sullivan, the managing director of Sky’s customer group. “[We are also] introducing a comprehensive video-on-demand service to complement Sky+ and the current Sky Anytime service.”
