SmartCamera
Latest
DARPA sets sights on cameras that understand
DARPA wants to let you all know that its plans for the robot apocalypse are still going strong. The agency's got IBM working on the brains, has an RFI out on the skin, and is handling propulsion and motor control in-house. Next up? Eyeballs. In order to give its robots the same sort of "visual intelligence" currently limited to animals, DARPA is kicking off a new program called The Mind's Eye with a one-day scientific conference this April. The goal is a "smart camera" that can not only recognize objects, but also be able to describe what they're doing and why, allowing unmanned bots and surveillance systems to report back, or -- we're extrapolating here -- make tactical decisions of their own. To be clear, there's no funding or formal proposal requests for this project quite yet. But if the code does come to fruition, DARPA, please: make sure autoexec.bat includes a few Prime Directives.
Samsung crams WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth 2.0 into well-specced CL65 point-and-shoot
If you're anything like us (and let's face it, you're exactly like us), you've been counting down the nanoseconds until Samsung finally revealed what its 'Tap and Take' campaign was all about. This, folks, is it. As many of you sharp folks surmised, Samsung is delving deep into the intelligent camera arena, equipping its luscious CL65 (no, not that CL65) with a 12.2 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 720p (30fps) movie mode, an HDMI output, and a 3.5-inch touchscreen that utilizes a Smart Gesture user interface. Furthermore, the camera can access certain features when simply tilted, and the built-in Bluetooth 2.0 module enables users to easily share images with other BT-equipped devices. Considering that you're probably still not impressed, how's about a little more on the cutting-edge front? The point-and-shoot also includes WiFi (much like Sony's disappointing DSC-G3 and Panny's Lumix DMC-TZ50), giving users the ability to upload directly to Facebook, Picasa and YouTube. Unfortunately, all photos uploaded via WiFi will be reduced to a resolution of two megapixels, and while we understand the reasoning, we figure an option for full / reduced res would've been a much better compromise. At any rate, the device also includes DLNA support for streaming to HDTVs and the like, while the integrated GPS chip handles the geotagging. The cam, which is admittedly bursting at the seams with features, will land next month in the US for $399.99. Full release is after the break.
Samsung's 'Tap and Take' teaser hints at revolutionary, unicorn-approved Smart Cameras
Samsung sure has been milking this whole "teaser" thing for all it's worth of late, with the newest mystery coming to us in the form of its fresh 'Tap and Take' campaign. From now until August 12th, users can give the read link a visit in order to ingest clues about the outfit's upcoming line of Smart Cameras. These wildly intelligent shooters will purportedly "transform the way consumers take pictures," and they just might provide each and every American with free health care, solve world hunger and put the mighty Hubble to shame. The whole thing will be revealed in full on August 13th, but for now, why not drop a comment below as to what you think will be so revolutionary about the forthcoming point-and-shoot range?[Via Korea Newswire]
Matrox Iris GT smart camera brings Windows CE to Atom-land
Matrox's new Iris GT "smart camera" doesn't mark the first time that the Atom processor and Windows CE have run into each other, but it's certainly one of the most interesting encounters, even if it's one that most folks likely won't see first hand. Apparently, the camera is intended to be used in various "machine vision" applications, like locating and reading barcodes or measuring the geometry of 2D objects, but we think you'll agree that it has one other, not quite official use written all over it: robot eye. The camera's specs certainly seem to make that a possibility, and include that ever-present 1.6GHz Atom processor, 256MB of RAM, 1GB of flash storage, a gigabit Ethernet port, and USB 2.0 and RS232 ports, not to mention accommodations for a number of interchangeable lenses -- it's even dust-proof and "washable." No word on a price just yet, but Matrox says it'll be available sometime in the first quarter of next year.[Via jkOnTheRun]
