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5.5 designers put eyeball details on lamps, weird us out
It's hard to say what kind of individual seeks out lighting instruments that even look like eyes, let alone lighting instruments with cloned details of their own eyes, but just in case you know one such person, here's the perfect FYI for 'em. Paris-based 5.5 designers are offering a service that enables you to send in images of your eyes (along with a very large sum of money, we presume) in order for the craftspeople to construct eyeball lamps with hints of you splashed all over. Sure gives Rockwell's one and only jam a whole new meaning, yeah?[Via ShinyShiny]
NTT DoCoMo testing out eye-controlled music interface
If you're scouting the strange, the weird and the weirder, you'll find plenty to get absorbed in over at the research facilities of NTT DoCoMo. The Japanese giant is at it once more, but this time the invention is actually somewhat down to Earth. It's mission? To create a method for easily controlling a music interface (on a PMP or cellphone) with just your eyes. By rolling one's eyes and jerking them from side to side, the outfit is hoping to have the corresponding music player change tracks and get louder / softer. If you're not exactly keen with freaking out fellow citizens on the street with completely erratic eye movements, you may also appreciate a similar technology it's working up which can detect a user's finger tapping to achieve to same goal. Of course, said technology would be halfway useless on the smash hit-packed ZVUE Journey (no way you're bypassing any of those tracks, son), but we guess you could check out your toes every now and then to keep from constantly staying at 11.[Via ShinyShiny]
Powerful lasers damage eyesight of some Russian ravers
Here's one straight from the bizarro chapters. Dozens of individuals that attended an all night dance party near Moscow have been "partially blinded after a laser light show burned their retinas," according to Russian health officials. Apparently someone responsible for erecting the equipment decided to aim a few lights powerful enough to brighten the night sky down at the crowd (after rain necessitated a makeshift roof, we're told), with some of those who stared too long losing up to "80%" of their vision. We're not exactly sure what will happen to the promoters of the event, but at least now you have a valid excuse to rock those face-engulfing sunglasses (or a welding mask, if you're really paranoid) in every night club you waltz into.[Via Switched, image courtesy of iGouGo]
Gaze Interaction interface tweaked for gaming
Remember that Gaze prototype we showed you, oh, not even a week ago? Turns out, a similar setup has received a healthy amount of funding from the EU, and unlike sluggish systems of the past, this one may enable people with severe motor disabilities to engage in 3D gaming. Communication by Gaze Interaction (COGAIN) is designed to speed up the eye-computer interfacing by recognizing when users look off screen; in doing so, the system can switch between modes or perform any number of tasks not easily accomplished by simply peering in a different direction. Reportedly, Stephen Vickers (the creator of this fantastic stuff) is hoping to begin software trials within the next dozen months, though future implementation still remains somewhat fuzzy at the moment.[Thanks, Iddo]
Dazzle: The slippery eye
While there were many complaints that the new communication window in the Second Life viewer obscured and drew the eye away from the 3D scene which represented the virtual world and its contents, Dazzle seems to fix that particular sore point in unexpected ways. Specifically, the eye is more sensitive to blue than to any other color, but capable of discerning less actual detail of blue things, particularly the brighter blues. For most of us, the eye tends to slide off and away from brighter blues and blues that are closer to gray and sliver.
LittleBigPlanet gameplay details showcased in Sony Gamers' Day previews
We admit it -- we developed a crush on Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet from the first time we laid eyes on its texture-rich world. Ever since its GDC '07 unveiling, we've been fiending for more information on this Go! Team-infused gem -- yesterday's Sony Gamers' Day did not disappoint in that respect, bringing us three new LBP video previews (look for our writeup from the event soon). The video above features the game's PlayStation Eye functionality, the other two (embedded after the break) feature some nuances of the character creation system and the recently revealed "danger" system. It will be ours. Oh yes, it will be ours.
Center your tanking
While I'm pushing through Black Temple and Mount Hyjal nicely as my guild's tank, I am still trying to improve my style and playing elements. There's not much more I can do to build threat – the Devastates, Shield Slams, Revenges, Heroic Strikes, etc., are all going off at the right time. Gear is fine, I can pretty much tank anything in the game at this point and succeed. So why am I still dying? Why am I missing that critical moment when I could put up my Spell Reflect and live a second longer?I think I've found it.It's all about eye movement. Try this: focus your sight to the upper left hand corner of the screen, and now move your sight down to the bottom of the screen. If you have a large enough monitor, you completely lose focus of the text and items near the upper left corner. This is problematic for tanking in that the unit frames (those things that tell you who's in your group and who you're attacking) are by default located in the upper left corner, and the action bars are located at the bottom. So if you want to make sure you're going to hit something – or even look at your keyboard for a moment – you're moving your eyes quite a bit.
Researchers add eye control to Da Vinci robosurgeon
Eye-controlled interfaces are far from revolutionary, but giving one of the world's most famous robotic surgeons the ability to interpret eye movements is most definitely a huge leap forward in the pursuit of making operations less invasive. Reportedly, British researchers have implemented new software into the Da Vinci robosurgeon in order to enable human surgeons to "sit at a viewing console directing the movement of the robot's mechanical arms inside the patient's body." Additionally, the program can track eye movements and "build up a 3D map of the area of tissue the surgeon is looking at," and it seems as if the developments could eventually be used on a variety of other ER-based robots. Just make sure your doctor chugs a couple of Red Bulls before putting you under -- wouldn't want those eyes wandering aimlessly, now would we? (Psst, "no-go zones" are included, thankfully.)[Via Slashdot]
Deal of the Day: Eye of Judgment pack for $47
It's almost like we were anticipating another deal by naming one "morning" and this one "day". We'll keep it quick so we can get this knowledge out to you ASAP. A lot of people have been on the edge of a fence when it comes to getting Eye of Judgment -- the big pack with the PlayStation Eye, a starter deck, and an extra pack of cards with the retail game. It was about $70, which turned a lot of people off since there was the whole collecting cards thing to worry about. Amazon has a special deal on the pack right now where you can get it all for $47, a small jump from buying the PS Eye by itself! If you've been on the fence, now is the time to jump off.
PS3 head tracking only needs camera
Last week, Sony showed off head tracking software for the PlayStation 3 using just the PS Eye camera (via MTV Multiplayer). That's right, no crazy hardware configurations devised by third parties (e.g. Johnny Lee, Electronic Arts), just software that identifies your head and its movement.A representative said the head tracking software has not been announced for any titles, but we'd love to see it show up soon for pretty much any genre of game. Video embedded after the break. (Note: It doesn't work for users with Canada, Japan or U.K. IPs.) While you're at it, (re)watch Lee's video to get a better idea of the potential of head tracking software (also embedded after the break).
Developer makes desktop VR application for PS Eye
Wasn't PS3 supposed to take us to the fourth dimension? Wasn't it supposed to be like entering the Matrix? Right, Crazy Ken?Well, it appears a lone PS3 developer wants that to happen. By utilizing a Eye camera and some homemade glasses, he's created a VR program that tracks your head and gives the illusion of three dimensionality from your television. (Similar to this famous Wii hack.) It's pretty cool -- and even cooler is that he intends on making this code publically available to all PS3 developers. Hopefully, we'll see a unique PSN title take advantage of something similar.
Researchers develop eye-implantable camera
Most of the bionic eye systems we've seen involve clunky glasses-cam headgear, but the implantable camera now being developed at UCLA does it straight Terminator-style and keeps your face unencumbered. The camera, which researcher Michelle Hauer and her team recently filed a patent for, is small enough to be implanted directly on the eye's lens, and feeds image data to a chip at the back of the eye, where it can either be fed into the optic nerve to aid the blind, or just into a portable hard drive to aid the creepy. Hauer says power will come from on an onboard battery, but we're more interested in the mention of "optical control signals" in the patent application -- and by "interested" we mean "terrified of a zombie android army."Read - NewScientist blurbRead - Patent application
Researchers clear up TV watching for visually impaired
Yeah, we've got HMDs for the visually impaired, but seriously, who's for sporting one of those things just to catch an afternoon soap? Thankfully, Dr. Eli Peli (and colleagues) from Harvard Medical School is lookin' out for said sect, and has developed a method for "enhancing the contrast of images of people and objects of interest on their digital televisions," which, during trials, was found to enhance legibility and overall enjoyment when watching. Furthermore, the technology is said to be the first to play nice with digital TV images, which seems fairly important considering that analog signals have but a few months to live here in America. Purportedly, the all-important modification that made the adjustments possible could be applied to HDTVs and digital STBs in the future, and sure enough, Peli has already sparked up conversation with Analog Devices in order to create a prototype chip for use in forthcoming sets. Now, if only clearing up those Get Smart reruns were this simple...[Via InventorSpot, image courtesy of Harvard (PDF)]
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Aquatopia
What is Aquatopia? We finally had a chance to play last week's Eye download. Of course, using the word "play" might be a stretch. The interactive screensaver takes advantage of the Eye by allowing you to tap on the top of the water. Some fish will follow the motion the camera detects, which is an interesting novelty ... but that's all it is.Unfortunately, Aquatopia simply doesn't engage enough to warrant a purchase. Yes, it's only $2 -- but that could easily go towards more involving affairs. What Aquavita is sorely missing as a screensaver is the ability to launch when the PS3 is idle, akin to Folding@home. That simple addition might make it far more worthwhile. Forcing the game to launch defeats its "screensaver" purpose.Visually, Aquatopia is okay. Seeing yourself in the reflection is meant to simulate the feel of looking into glass and it works. With just a little more interactivity, like the ability to drop fish food, we would've enjoyed this experience a lot more. Just pass on this one.%Gallery-8664%
PS3 Fanboy review: Operation Creature Feature
Operation Creature Feature is a game made specifically for the Eye. If you don't have the camera peripheral, read no further -- this game won't work for you. However, those that do have Eye will find that this experiment in video gaming an interesting diversion. Those that have $5 in spare change lying around won't do too poorly with this purchase. However, once the initial novelty disappears, the appeal of Operation Creature Feature quickly diminishes.The goal of Operation Creature Feature is to carry innocent Blurbs, trapped inside a trap-riddled mine, to safety. In order to do so, you'll move your hands (and the rest of your body) to carry these critters to a goal in each level. There's a time limit, and death traps aplenty ... so players best be careful!You won't be just using your hands. Because the game detects motion, players will find the Blurbs being dragged around by their shoulders, their necks, their feet. Instinctively, one will try to use their hands, but the camera will detect other parts of your body moving and move any Blurbs that get in the way. This can be frustrating at times, as players must learn how to keep their body still in order to attempt proper movement of the Blurbs.%Gallery-11029%
PlayStation Eye team experimenting with new ideas
The latest update to the Official PlayStation.blog is one of the best updates we've seen so far. The videos on display showcase some the truly incredible potential of the PlayStation Eye, where drawings come to life in video games. These are simply concepts, and aren't indicative of any games in development ... but we're excited nonetheless. Being able to transform your army men toys (pictured above) into playable characters on the television is certainly a fun way of merging the real world and the virtual one.It really is like jacking into the Matrix, Kaz! Thanks.
Stop-motion animation with EyeCreate
We're expecting some pretty good stop motion animation to hit the web when the PlayStation Eye and Eye Create are released by Sony. Eye Create is a free application, downloadable on the PSN, that allows users to edit their captured videos directly on the PS3. A new post on the PlayStation.blog focuses on stop-motion animation, where a series of still images can be strung together to create the illusion of movement. This is similar to PSP's Go!Cam and Go!Edit program (downloadable from PSP Fanboy). PSP fans took the liberty of create their own pieces of animation, and we expect a similar following from PS3 fans.
Sony doles out more details on PlayStation Eye
With just under a fortnight to go before folks go a-grabbin' for Sony's PlayStation Eye, a Senior Producer for SCEA has come forward with a few more lingering details about the peripheral. For starters, Sony apparently has plans to integrate the device into other upcoming titles such as SingStar, which will enable users to "make their own personalized music videos to share with family and friends online." Additionally, the EyeCreate software -- which will allow individuals to "save, edit and share PlayStation Eye videos, photos and audio clips" through their PS3 -- will be available as a free download on the PlayStation Store. Finally, those not interested in the bundled Eye of Judgment game can opt for a standalone unit on October 23rd, which is set to ring up at $39.99.
Joystiq's hands-on with the PlayStation Eye
The fanatical crew of card-and-video-game enthusiasts over at Joystiq have apparently had the unique pleasure of a hands-on with the newest and wackiest PS3 accessory, the PlayStation Eye and its bundled game Eye of Judgment. If you'll recall, the interactive, VGA camera is integrated with the Magic: The Gathering-like game, which uses real cards and a mat that the camera is aimed at. We understand the Joystiq team really put the game (and the Eye) through its paces in a 36-hour, pepperoni-pizza-filled, jolt-drinking marathon, which ended when one of the players' chaotic-neutral wizards cast "sleep" on everyone, but exhausted his remaining mana in the process. Browse on over to the Joystiq'ers pad and get all the nasty details.
Joystiq plays with the PS Eye
We're still waiting for our Eye, but it looks like the cool kids at Joystiq have already had some quality time with their's. A few tidbits they've discovered: The cord for the camera is about 6.5 feet in length. Proper lighting is required for Eye of Judgment. The camera is an improvement over the PS2 EyeToy with: "smoother frame rate and slightly crisper on-screen image, as well as a nice auto-focus capability." Eye is not compatible with PS2 games and will not be recognized by the Xbox 360. A PC will detect the device, but appropriate drivers have not been released yet. The Eye hits retail stores October 23rd by itself for $40, or included with Eye of Judgment for $70. To read Joystiq's complete hands-on and check out their pics, click here.
