Canon gets all 'Steve Zissou' with its Mixed Reality Aquarium
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted May 1st 2009 3:17PM
posted May 1st 2009 3:17PM
In some ways, augmented reality is an elegant solution to the main problem with VR: while there are some areas where insane levels of immersion are required, this stuff ain't cheap -- relegating solutions like CirculaFloor to academics, the military, and the extremely well-heeled. But how about those who just want to see wild graphics while they, you know, "party?" Canon's Mixed Reality Aquarium headset transforms any area you inhabit into a giant fishbowl. Not the sort of thing that you'll want to do more than once, probably -- although, to the company's credit, this is more of a research project than an actual product. How about an option to swim with Daryl Hannah from Splash? That would be pure gadget gold. That said, this does make for a fun video -- which we've graciously provided for you, after the break.
[Via Oh Gizmo!]
[Via Oh Gizmo!]
cool
I'm sure in about 10 to 20 years when looking back to this stuff we all laugh at how big it was and stupid it looked to walk around with one of these.
I'm waiting for double dragonball z scouters!
ooh, virtual porn soon a reality!!
Hopefully not CG...
Soo... Stickcam + AR = INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET INTERNET
Augmented Reality? I have that everyday. My doctor says I have to take pills for it. Damn people will pay for anything, that some get for free.
Gunpei Yokoi is rolling over in his grave- looks like the Virtual Boy 2! :)
Supposedly Cousteau and his cronies invented the idea of putting walkie-talkies into the helmet. But we made ours with a special rabbit ear on the top so we could pipe in some music.
One of the greatest movies. :D
I agree...but then all Wes Anderson movies are fantastic.
Oh man, just imagine how awesome video games could be with this thing...
Ok, so this would be able to project Jenna Jameson onto my gf during naughty time?
I'll take 12.
It'll still be your girlfriend... Unless she's as practised as Jenna it will only get you halfway.
If you're not against me, don't cross this line! If yes, do.
Why did the reporter think that was a product bound for the commercial market? Looks like a simple tech demo. There's no way that'd take that commercial.
Well, someday, somebody *might* make a portable gaming system like that, that day is WAY WAY WAY off. Considering Nintendo's love of crazy new gaming systems, they might make video game glasses in another 10 years. But only when they are light weight, sit comfortably on your head, easy to use, and don't make you sick to your stomach. I doubt they'll make the same mistakes they did with the extremely hard to use Virtual Boy. That poor thing was all KINDS of Messed-Up!
Yeah, it'll only be a matter of time before we get sunglasses and or Vegeta Style Scouters. Mix this tech with the Transparent OLED tech, have some remote strapable rendering and computational device (attached to arm or waist or even a cell phone itself). Figure out how to power it properly, and Voila!
Uber video games and a computational interaction milestone.
Id take a pair of the special shades even if their initial battery life was an hour or two between charges.