Olympus' projectors and camcorders do a 360 -- still can't ollie

Olympus is experimenting with a new lens capable of a 360-degree horizontal projection or capture. Better yet, they seem to have bunged it together with video processing equipment. According to Google's translation robots, CCD-based projectors and cameras (pictured) fitted with the new "axial symmetrical free curved surface lens" are entering into a period of trial manufacture. Combining a 45-degree vertical field of vision, the Olympus camera would be ideally suited for ceiling mounted surveillance while the projector would likely be little more than a novelty in rev-1. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for an English translation before delving too deeply into this. So why not clickity-click through for more pictures while you wait.

[Via Impress]

[james stringer @ Jul 6th 2007 8:39AM]

Heh..and if Thomas Ricker Keeps with the jokes he will be doing a KickFlip.

Nahh kidding it made me laugh!

[Grant @ Jul 6th 2007 9:01AM]

lol,
oh those skateboarding puns, talk about groaners.

[Thomas Ricker @ Jul 6th 2007 9:06AM]

Grant and James,

Thank you, thank you I'll be here all week... ah hell, I'll never get out of this joint. (wink)

Thomas

[linvincible @ Jul 6th 2007 9:54AM]

don't see the point unless you have a circular screen, or process the picture to display a portion of it on a regular screen

[Jinvincible @ Jul 6th 2007 10:36AM]

If you can't see the point of something that a major corporation is spending millions of dollars to develop, maybe they know something you don't.

[linvincible @ Jul 6th 2007 10:57AM]

or maybe they have a circular screen or the processing to scroll it on a regular one
all I meant is that it makes it complicatedto use, it's not just a matter of having the lens

[Simon @ Jul 6th 2007 2:37PM]

If you would read the article they can also project the image that way, also to process the image for a normal screen isn't something difficult at all.

And there are quite a few uses for this if you thing for a second. The conference table thing is one nice example, any surveillance application another, and if that's not enough just think a bit harder ...

[Charles L. Grubbs @ Jul 12th 2007 3:54AM]

You don't or won't need a screen, it projects a holographic image all around you putting you in the complete center of the action, think of holodeck on the Starship Enterprise and there you have it 360 degress of action or plesant scenery. Weclome to the Future.

[Simon P @ Jul 6th 2007 11:52AM]

Bugger. The story content isn't really my kettle of fish but I just popped in to the commments to say "Best frikkin' headline of the last couple of weeks" to find that someone beat me to it. Great minds think alike! Keep up the good work.

[SubGenius @ Jul 6th 2007 1:02PM]

Sounds perfect for Gogle StreetView.

[Tim Rand @ Jul 6th 2007 1:35PM]

It would make and interesting Conference Room camera, so you could see around the table. You just flatten the image.

[Jordan @ Jul 6th 2007 2:26PM]

Haha I love that title. Who here actually skates?

[Pav @ Jul 6th 2007 5:28PM]

About time you moved off the crappy iPhone.

[Derrick @ Jul 7th 2007 2:43AM]

now only if they made movies that we could watch like that

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Jul 7th 2007 1:16PM]

Looks like they will be hearing from BeingThere's lawyers anytime soon.