Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Computational Photography: Image Of The Future
Computational photography focuses on the future in a way that today's digital camera does not. Digital cameras are really just like cameras have been for a hundred and fifty years; they focus light onto a chip instead of onto film.
CSAIL researchers Bill Freeman and Frédo Durand is a way of expanding the possibilites; it uses the images as a set of data that are manipulated using computer algorithms. Take a look at the three pictures shown below to see how computational photography can eliminate blurring.
(Computational photography eliminates blurring)
“Right now digital photography is very much modeled after what worked for film exposures, which is having a single snapshot where that’s the final answer. With computational photography it’s a set of data and you can go and process it,” said Freeman. “Through computational photography I think it will be much easier to get sharp images, to get high-dynamic range images, to get panoramic images, to get really nice photos from small hand-held devices.”Durand and Freemand are also interested in extracting more information from a scene. To examine motion, they developed a technique to magnify it. Through this procedure, viewers can compare the movements of two cars with different loads or closely examine an infant’s breathing. As these algorithms allow users to expand specific movements exponentially, parents and doctors could use this approach to ensure a child is breathing normally at night.
“One thing I tend to say is that computation is the new optics,” said Durand. “If I wanted to see something smaller before I would just get a bigger microscope, but now we can create algorithms that reveal what would not be visible otherwise, and that’s really exciting.”
Fans of the 1982 movie Blade Runner recall the Esper photo analysis which allowed Deckard to zoom in on areas of interest in photographs.
(Blade Runner Esper photo analysis machine)
For another science-fictional take on photography, consider the Agfom potent shot film used in Philip K. Dick's 1964 novel Clans of the Alphane Moon:
Moving toward the door, Alfson said, "Glad to. This film I'm using - I'm sure you've run across it at CIA; it's expensive, but helpful." He explained to both Chuck and Joan. "I've just taken an Agfom potent-shot. Does that strike a chord? What I have in this camera is not a record of what you did just now but what will go on here in the next half hour..."
Via this excellent article at CSAIL.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/22/2011)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 2 )
Related News Stories - (" Computer ")
Automatic Bot Traffic Is 38 Percent Of HTTP Requests
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...' - John Brunner, 1975
Neuroplatform Human Brain Organoid Bioprocessor Uses Less Electricity
'Cultured brains on a slab.'- Peter Watts, 1999
AI Worms That Spread
'...there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net now' - John Brunner, 1975.
Great. Now AIs Have Access To Hacking Tools
'... when you and the Flatline punch through that ice and scramble the cores.' - William Gibson, 1984.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
Hybrid Wind Solar Devices
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
'The automatic massager began to fumble gently...'
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
There are alternative names that are probably in the public domain by now.
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
