The Minoru 3D Webcam reveals new dimensions to awkward conversations

We've never really gotten the knack for video chat. Either we're bothered by the lack of eye contact, freaked by the uneasy silences or just way too ugly, but whatever it is we're sure the Minoru 3D Webcam is going to make it all much more immersive and difficult. Featuring dual cameras spaced about a face-width apart, Minoru creates a stereoscopic effect for viewing with old-school red and blue 3D glasses. The camera supports all sorts of video chat services, or you can shoot 3D video and shuffle it up to YouTube, and 2D is also available for all the squares out there. Minoru's currently competing in the CES Innovations competition, and should be hitting shelves in December at a sub-$100 pricepoint.

[Muhammed @ Oct 17th 2008 10:12AM]

it looks like a droid!

[tom @ Oct 17th 2008 11:07AM]

The design reminds me of WALL-E, beside the red colour

[Neseoro @ Oct 17th 2008 11:15AM]

These aren't the droids you're looking for....

[andrea @ Oct 17th 2008 10:17AM]

A bit creepy, isn't it?

[John @ Oct 18th 2008 12:33AM]

It's a peeping robo-cam.

[jrc @ Oct 17th 2008 10:21AM]

Are you telling me two people chatting with this would each have to be wearing red/blue glasses? Doesn't that seem odd for a face-to-face video chat?

[j_g_puff @ Oct 17th 2008 10:36AM]

This is the 21st centuary. Get with the programme. In the future, everyone will wear glasses, all the time. We'll have 3 eyes. The internet will be obsolete, and 3D webcams will run wild in the streets. Can't handle the inevitable, old man? There's only one way out: become a mormon.

[justincase @ Oct 17th 2008 12:58PM]

@ j_g_puff

Um, do you mean Amish? They're the ones who don't modern machines or electronics, right?

[Darkflame @ Oct 17th 2008 1:51PM]

hmz.
I think the next step isnt 3d, but rather have monitors that have a camera *in the middle*
I'm sure you could have some pin-prick sized hole that leads to a sensor ver a lens without too much impact on the screen itself.
Probably will look like one dead pixals in the middle, but if they use some one-way glass, might be almost completely unnoticable.

[Mikey @ Oct 19th 2008 12:10PM]

Obviously, if you are having a 3D chat, you will have to use 3D glasses-how else would you like to see 3D images?! But if you dont want to wear them, like it says in the description, the camera also supports 2D chat.

[Rick @ Oct 17th 2008 10:31AM]

Do you still need the glasses if you have an auto-stereoscopic LCD monitor?

... The possibilites of 3d video chat are endless.. I cannot wait!

[mos @ Oct 17th 2008 10:31AM]

This would help blooming the virtual p0rn industry.

[NHAnimator @ Oct 17th 2008 10:52AM]

I dunno. Seems like doing it in front of this thing is kinda like doing it when your dog is watching.

[winterfreez @ Oct 17th 2008 10:44AM]

Anybody else think it looks like ET? "ET [3D video] phone home..."

[Xenoterranos @ Oct 17th 2008 4:24PM]

Damn! I couldn't place it!

[MOntanaJones @ Oct 17th 2008 10:44AM]

My balls virtually in your face!

[spam_free @ Oct 17th 2008 10:44AM]

This thing reminds me of Stewie from The Family Guy.

[Wwhat @ Oct 17th 2008 10:57AM]

I like it, so far, it'll depend on image quality how much after I see some footage.

[Wwhat @ Oct 17th 2008 11:00AM]

Found a vid of it in action, bit narrow viewfield but it has a fun factor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQkXb9b6VzM

[Chris Are @ Oct 17th 2008 11:25AM]

Meh.

[asg84 @ Oct 17th 2008 12:37PM]

will they look bigger ? :)
then ill buy

[Vander @ Oct 17th 2008 4:04PM]

Ben 10 does camera now?
http://www.metroteliper.com.ar/WILLY/BEN10/GREYMATTER%20META9.JPG

[Vander @ Oct 17th 2008 1:57PM]

Ben 10 does camera now?

[Steve Jamieson @ Oct 18th 2008 9:53AM]

Hi, YouTube really kills the 3D quality. That movie looks a 1,000 times better without the YouTube compression.

[Steve Jamieson @ Oct 19th 2008 6:48AM]

Check these, the compression on Vimeo is much less than YouTube.

http://www.vimeo.com/1929432
http://www.vimeo.com/1874954

[Wwhat @ Oct 19th 2008 7:56AM]

Thanks for pointing that out, appreciated.

[adam @ Oct 19th 2008 12:10AM]

does anyone else think it would be awesome to have 3d contacts instead of glasses

[thatrotierkid @ Nov 5th 2008 12:18PM]

http://users.wpi.edu/~rkim/ma2611/2004.mlb.txt

[thatrotierkid @ Nov 5th 2008 1:26PM]

www.wpi.edu/~rkim/ma2611/nurshome.txt

[thatrotierkid @ Nov 5th 2008 1:26PM]

http://www.wpi.edu/~rkim/ma2611/nurshome.txt