I2T security camera generates searchable text transcript in real-time
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted June 2nd 2010 12:13PM
posted June 2nd 2010 12:13PM
Researchers in California have developed a prototype camera called I2T that can capture video, parse out the background, analyze the action, and then export the content to a text file "that can be searched using simple text search," according to Song-Chun Zhu, lead researcher and professor of statistics and computer science at UCLA. Using a database of over two million images, the system is pretty good at annotating surveillance footage, which generally relies on a static camera. Before the technology can be commercialized, however, they need to significantly expand the database. "If set loose on random images or videos found online," writes Technology Review, the camera would "struggle to perform." If Song-Chun Zhu is interested, we have a library of Greatest American Hero images we can donate to the cause (they're left over from our other blog, GreatestAmericanHeroFanfiction.blogspot.com). Check out the links below to see it in action. [Warning: PDF source link]
Car...car...hooker...car...
@MattsZ This should certainly help Skynet
land_vehicle?
so, they are leaving room for air_vehicle?, De'lorean?
@magallanes That comes under land_air_time_vehicle
Big brother just learned how to read and write!
@Proverb
We are edging closer and closer to a police state. Pretty soon there will always be somebody from the government watching you. Those who argue, "If you don't have anything to hide you shouldn't mind" are brainwashed into thinking that the government has a right(or even an obligation) to infringe upon the personal freedom of the citizens.
I encourage everyone to read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Tech can be a wonderful part of our future or it can be a tool fear that is lorded over the populous. That decision is being made now.
@New Reformation
Lol, ur serious eh?
@New Reformation We spend in the Trillions on National Defense, but can't protect ourselves from amateurs? I have read all those "Big Brother" books. I have no problem with it. I think we should drastically cut the defense budget and focus on actually protecting our citizens (I believe we spend about 2 times the rest of the world COMBINED for defense).
As long as we aren't trying to read people's minds for Future Crimes, what's wrong with observing people in public, gathering a bunch of data, and analyzing that data? This has no bearing whatsoever on liberties.
@Prkl8r + than 2 times the rest of the world.
@Prkl8r The problem is what if I don't want to be "observed" in public? I pay my taxes and am a productive member of society shouldn't I have a say about whether or not I'm being filmed and analyzed? What about my right to privacy?
@Prkl8r
Hey Prkl8r, are you the CEO of Facebook?
@Proverb
There is no right to privacy.
Finally!!! I always wondered why in Hollywood movies they always type in the search bar something like: "SEARCH white sedan with broken tale light turning right" And bing... here you have it.
@SeeKo
Bing?
@mpsmith
I should have used "tadaa".
Closer and closer to Skynet.
"Above-than-normal"? At least we know the Grammar Nazis aren't taking over.
This is actually a pretty neat idea. It would also make it much easier to track vehicles from one intersection to the next.
While I like the idea and the implementation of it I don't like direction that it shows the government is going.
@apairofdocs yep, the police will know about your accident before you call it in... and those hit and run drivers won't know what hit them!
hadn't seen an article in a while about the inevitable robot apocalypse in a while. thanks for filling up my glass, guys.
Land_vehicle_360 approaches intersection at an above_than_normal speed.
High velocity deterrent laser system engaged.
Land_vehicle_360 terminated.
Thanks for helping to build our electro-gulag, a-holes.
...on the next version it goes to court and argues back when the defendant says he wasn't going that fast.
so is this a "smart" intersection camera prototype then? Ticket, ticket, ticket....ticket....
eMail to database: god this is boring... there goes a red car... i'm going mad at this intersection... a white car ran a pedestrian down... well, i guess that's some excitement... wish i had a phone line... i could have called 911... more boredom... a bunch of cars and trucks showed up with blue flashing lights.... yawn... a green car turned left from the street with the school on it... if i had fingers, i would drum them... another white car went south... god this is boring...
Somehow the text this thing generates reminds me of Zork.
For university professors, their grammar skills are somewhat below than normal.