http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/ Engadget Comments for Japan's 'Helicopter Boyz' turn the Nikon S1000pj into something much more disturbing http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/]]>Nov 29th 2009 8:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/]]>Nov 29th 2009 8:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 9:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 10:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
It's just well choreographed. You can actually see times when the projectors do turn to far the other way, especially the hand-forarm projectors.]]>Nov 29th 2009 4:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 8:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 30th 2009 5:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 8:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 8:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 8:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 8:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 9:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 9:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 9:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 30th 2009 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 9:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 9:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 9:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
Maybe Engadget thinks cat and dog heads on the cheerleaders is crossing the line in to bestiality. ]]>Nov 29th 2009 9:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Engadget, lighten up. That's a pretty innovative and awesomely creative use for both the cameras and the projectors. I bet you guys can't think of something better.]]>Nov 29th 2009 9:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 10:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 10:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 10:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/


(Too bad those odon and tuna chomping pubescents don't know how to dance.)


]]>Nov 29th 2009 10:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
They should at least know the mecha, I mean robot.]]>Nov 29th 2009 11:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 10:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 11:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
]]>Nov 29th 2009 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/It's real, it just seems to be too much for you to comprehend.
A single rear-projection (linked to motion capture) would not yield overlapping projections where the overlapped areas intensify in light. And simulating the effect of intensifying and focusing the image when moving closer to the projected surface, or washing out and blurring the image when moving away from the surface, would be far more complicated to set up.

Plus the lower cameras aren't mounted on their lower legs, more like just below the inner side of their knees. That means their leg movements have a bit of leeway, and as long as they point their knees back when picking up their legs, the images will still project onto the wall.]]>Nov 29th 2009 1:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
More thought - the animation has a framerate. If the projectors were shooting at the wall, there should be completely smooth movement of light.]]>Nov 29th 2009 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
At about 1:20 they move their arms in front of their bodies, and you can even see the camera on the wrist of the left one catch the light while it's almost totally facing the audience. The arm image stays on the screen and overlaps the chest image, which, without the aforementioned tech, is impossible.

I had thought it was real until I read all these comments, and I was still trying to explain the discrepancies away until I went back and looked again. The thing that sealed the deal for me is at about 2:38 the leg image of the right kid quickly jumps and changes its orientation, a movement not copied by the kid's leg.]]>Nov 29th 2009 4:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
it's impossible to fake this. They would need some way to track their movement. It's more likely that the projectors have stabilisation and tilt adjustment. As for the 2:38 "rotation" you mention, that's just portrait/landscape mode switch that pretty much every camera has these days, using an orientation sensor.]]>Nov 30th 2009 2:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
Nice catchy tune.

Is it real? Dang it there's always a kill joy out there. 2:20 he lifts his leg, doesn't bend it up. So it would stay on the screen as shown. It is real.]]>Nov 29th 2009 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
and why wouldn't the projectors be so stable on them? maybe you just work for kodak so you dont believe it.]]>Nov 29th 2009 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 6:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 11:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/But...
I think the projections are coming from behind the screen. When they move their arms in front of their bodies at 1:21 they would be pointing the cameras away from the screens, and the projections would disappear. I think they are mo capped and rear projected.
But....
I could be wrong and these kids could be THAT awesome.]]>Nov 29th 2009 11:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
]]>Nov 29th 2009 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/
Anyway...

On to something else:
It's getting harder and harder to believe it's real as I watch parts of it a second time. I mean, how can some of the images remain so steady, and even project evenly, if the boys' arms or legs move forward? It may be possible they're only using the projectors as sources for tracking through the screen, and projecting the images from behind. I want to believe, I really do, but moments like 2:25 where arms are in front of legs make me wonder.]]>Nov 29th 2009 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 1:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/japans-helicopter-boyz-turn-the-nikon-s1000pj-into-something/Nov 29th 2009 1:36PM