Here's looking at you, from out of the blue

[technossomy]

Cameras are used on streets and shopping malls to ensure safety for pedestrians and travelers and prevent to some degree crimes such as shop lifting and car burglary by deterrence. Though these cameras are quite advanced nowadays with the ability to swivel, tilt and zoom, they are always mounted at a fixed point. Additionally there is the ability to track people or cars by automatically switching from one camera to the other . True tracking however will come from cameras which are perhaps mounted at a fixed point and of a size such that they are invisible with the naked eye when viewed from a distance of at least 5 meters , and of which the controlling system is capable of blending images . It is the blending part which requires the computational effort . Because of its size and capabilities there can be so many cameras deployed that when tracking an object the amount of information gathered would suffice to recreate a 3 dimensional moving image, which is easier to follow and interpret by a viewer. The object under supervision will then to the viewer appear to be followed by a moving camera and can be seen from any angle . The focus of this initiative will then no longer be on the camera 's technology but on the speed and robustness of the software blending the images together in a movie-like or game-like fashion .

[ryokimball]

Umm... I really like the post, but I feel that I'm missing some point or something.

One thing I think I can contribute to the post, however, is that so much that the human eye can't see is bypassed in the process of recording that is more than readily available. In the instance of 3D imaging --have you heard of the directional sound technology that's out there? We all know how sonar works, so combining that technology with the electromagnetic recording (not just the visible light spectrum!!) would be a great accomplishment of programming and technology.

Of course, this would also be a big step for Big Brother. I get annoyed enough when my dad tries to keep up with what I'm doing....

[MikeTbob]

Umm... I really like the post, but I feel that I'm missing some point or something.

have you heard of the directional sound technology that's out there? We all know how sonar works, so combining that technology with the electromagnetic recording (not just the visible light spectrum!!) would be a great accomplishment of programming and technology.

Do you mean this Directional Sound?

illumin : article : Directional Audio
Imagine walking down the street and being bombarded with Audio Ads from Calvin Klein, or even some jerk that decided it would be funny to send some random "I am god" message at you at 145 decibels? That would seriously freak me out.

[Agent-X]

Yeah, a lot of directed devices, weapons etc., have been more and more developed this decade. 'twould be radical to point it toward someone and say, "I AM GOD! THOU SHALT BE THE CHOSEN ONE!"

Interesting article. The uses for military combat would be revolutionary. A lot of war can be psychologically based.

I don't think cameras will really be using 3D scanning technology. That sounds stupid when it comes to security devices. It would be a waste of process rendering. Why? because the physical world changes rapidly. Now, if this were done from a satellite, then that would be oh-so awesome. I mean, if you could just convert everything to a digital blueprint, that would rock.

Hmm, cameras are nice for catching people doing crimes. Unfortunately, I think they do invade privacy. The downside is that people are trying to make cameras invade more of your privacy instead of simply catching a person doing a crime: And that is where I think camera technology becomes unethical.

I place the unethical nature next to having to tell a bank teller your social security number and account number. I mean, who's to say the bank teller is going to be forever loyal?

Personal privacy and security is a large social issue in America and has been the primary reason Americans have been saying America is or is entering a fascist state.

[ryokimball]

Do you mean this Directional Sound?

That's it!

Interesting article. The uses for military combat would be revolutionary. A lot of war can be psychologically based.

This would be a terrible situation. I suppose the best thing to consider is that war is bad, and so is lying and all that stuff, but since when have people in wartime thought or acted morally? I think using this technology would be very useful well beyond aggressive military (or marketting) activities. For one thing, it could send information to troops where it would be hazardous to carry radio transmitters or other electronic materials.

I don't think cameras will really be using 3D scanning technology. That sounds stupid when it comes to security devices. It would be a waste of process rendering. Why? because the physical world changes rapidly. Now, if this were done from a satellite, then that would be oh-so awesome. I mean, if you could just convert everything to a digital blueprint, that would rock.

I'm reminded of Enemy of the State with Will Smith. Three dimensional survailance may in fact be a little over zealous for now, but when it becomes time that elementary students can speak fluently in twenty programming languages or our technology finally moves beyond simple electronic switches, it might be more than elementary to incorporate such processes into every day use.

I place the unethical nature next to having to tell a bank teller your social security number and account number. I mean, who's to say the bank teller is going to be forever loyal?

I think this is a "necessary evil" for how things are today. I mean, you aren't really required to put your money in a bank, so if you do it's more or less your own fault. I mean, just because a person legally buys and owns a gun doesn't mean they will legally use it --it's just something we (perhaps rightly) assume trust in. I don't think we should have to be paranoid about our neighbours, but I do understand where such paranoia comes from, especially nowadays.