German student shows off camera-based input on an iPhone
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 12th 2010 5:49PM
posted March 12th 2010 5:49PM
Using a camera as an input device is hardly a new idea -- even on a mobile device -- but most examples so far have been to enable functionality not possible on a touchscreen. As Master's student Daniel Bierwirth has shown in the video after the break, however, a phone on a camera can also be used as an alternative input method for features like scrolling or zooming, potentially allowing for easier interaction on devices with smaller screens. Bierwirth also takes the idea one step further, and sees the system eventually including a second camera that's worn by a person, which would be able to detect when your hands are near the phone and allow for a range of other gestures. Check out his full report at the link below.
A "camera on a phone" you mean...
Also why does this article appear on the /exclude/apple version of the site?
@sumwon
Because there's no "apple" tag for this post.
Also, this is ridiculously slow and seemingly unreliable.
@whiskers
Evidently, but I was hinting more so at the reason why, rather than the cause.
All engadget editors should undergo an /exclude/apple training seminar and prove themselves capable of adhering to the policies previously set forth by one Mr. Topolsky.
@sumwon
What you're asking for is the non-Apple non-iPhone version of Engadget (I think it'll also work with more tags separated with commas):
http://www.engadget.com/exclude/apple,iphone/
@sumwon Probably because it is only tangentially related to Apple in that the guy coded it on his iPhone, not because the technology requires Apple in any way to function?
@Tegeril
Agree, I don't think this falls into Apple related. The use of the iphone is tangential to the story.
@sumwon I dont understand why u spend your time posting then if you don't care and are complaining. Just go on to the next article when you see a big iPhone in the picture before you open it. Instead you pull it up read the article and post why they should block it. I dont understand at all.
@angermeans totally agree...that kind of post is sooo like an ex gf of mine who somehow sees herself as the "internet police" and had rather read, think, fume, then write a girlie take down when all she had to do was let it go...i actually like reading about different platforms and capabilities, but sounds like this girly got her panties all twisted over what, i don't know..but endgadget covers a broad enough range of stuff so you can compare..most of people in my classes like it because of that..not limiting, including heavy pc gamers, apple fanboys, and all sorts of other media usage...give it up, girl...(hopin this poster isn't my ex......)
@sumwon
you miss the whole point alot of phones have cameras on them
you could do this with other phones provided they have good enough processing, the iphone isnt the only thing that can be used you know
My old Samsung SCH-a990 dumb phone let you use the camera in a similar way to pan around a zoomed in photo. Once zoomed in, waving the phone from left, right, up, and down would pan the image. All using the camera to figure out its motion and nothing else.
@elias
Yes, such types of control using camera have been done many times - usually use optical flow for viewfinder alignment and tracking. Works well for older camera phones which dont have accelerometers.
@naashak
Please name some. Never saw such a technique...
@Indyaner
Canadian company called Gesturetek dominates the market of UI's using camera's both in and out of mobile devices. They've got huge contracts with people like Sony Ericsson and KDDI for use in phones in europe and asia, not so much in the states and canada though.
Patent it Daniel - before Apple does and sue them when they use it illegally...
Haha
They should port it to the iPad
oh wait
:P
SixthSense is better.
http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/
Saw it on the video. It looks gay
This should be tagged "apple"