Vision
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Nintendo flashes us with Vision Training
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/E307_Nintendo_flashes_us_with_Vision_Training'; Halfway through its E3 2007 media briefing today, Nintendo announced that it will expanding its line of casual titles in the US with Strengthen Your Visual Power through Practice: Vision Training (Miru Chikara wo Jissen de Kitearu: DS Ganriki Training), retitling the game as Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day.If neither of the titles suitably sum up the game for you, it is a collection of exercises and minigames that test you on field of vision and eye-hand coordination, using the results to determine the age of your eyes. Shift your eyes past the post break for some video impressions of the Japanese demo from CAG's CheapyD!
Fruit-picking robots closer to reality
It looks like Vision Robotics' would-be fleet of agriculture robots is getting a little closer to reality, with the previous crude 2D sketches of 'em now replaced with slightly less crude 3D models (among other developments). Last we heard from the company, its scout robot was still a long ways from hitting the farm, but Wired News is now reporting that Vision expects to have a prototype of it ready sometime next year, with the larger harvester bot expected to follow two or three years after that. As before, the company plans to have the scout robots plot out the best fruit-picking route, which the harvester would then follow, grabbing hard to reach fruit with the utmost delicacy -- no doubt picking up a few humans' jobs along the way.
Win Pac-Man, Live subscriptions and Vision cams
To celebrate the continued success of the Xbox Live Arcade (and because they received free goodies from Microsoft), Eurogamer is having a fun little giveaway. European residents can enter the giveaway by answering a rather easy Pac-Man related question over on their site to win prizes galore. What prizes you ask. Well, good question. They're giving away five 12-Month XBL Vision Gold Packs, five XBLA retro tshirts, and fifteen codes to download the new Pac-Man Championship Edition game off the Arcade. So, head on over to their site and enter the giveaway before June 13th. Remember, you must be a European resident, North Americans need not apply.[Thanks, eLiNeS]
Vision Research's Miro 3 snaps 2200 frames-per-second
We've seen cameras with megapixel numbers that defy logic, and while Vision Research's latest camera doesn't quite do one million frames-per-second, it holds its own in the fast-snappin' game. The first member of the Phantom lineup, dubbed the Miro 3, is a lightweight, rugged device "targeted at industrial applications ranging from biometric research to automotive crash testing." Essentially, this little bundle of joy is meant to be strapped into daredevil-type situations in order to grab as many photos as possible within a split second, as it can programmed to snap 2,200 frames-per-second at 512 x 512 resolution, or up to 95,000 fps if you only need 32 x 32 images. It touts shutter speeds as low as two-microseconds, an ISO rating of up to 4,800 in monochrome, selectable 8-, 10- or 12-bit pixel depths, and a "number of external control signals allowing for external triggering, camera synchronization, and time-stamping." The Miro 3 looks to be available right now, but unless you need to capture stills of your next stunt, we wouldn't bother inquiring about the (presumably lofty) price.[Via Wired]
The amazing invisible gamer
Perhaps you spotted this on Joystiq, but we had to post it here. It's been some time since we've seen any Vision Camera shenanigans. This video, however, is special. It's not a video of some jackass on Command & Conquer 3, oh no, this video is not of this world. Gasp as his couch defies the laws of our universe. Feel your mind become one with another dimension as you stare through a man's solid flesh.If you prefer to preserve the illusion, read no further. It turns out that the Vision camera used in this video was suffering from a case of burn in. It seems the camera has captured the couch in the background for so long that it is permanently within the frame. As it stands, the video teaches us two things. One, be careful using your Vision cam for prolonged amounts of time. Two, if you're not worried about your Vision's well-being, this should make for an interesting party trick.
Software system to enable visual prosthesis learning
Years back, scientists at the University of Bonn reckoned a visual implant would cure blindness, but unfortunately, the results were less than positive. While many alternatives have surfaced in the meantime, gurus at the institution are hitting back yet again with another option of their own, as the researchers introduced a software system that enables visual prosthesis to "learn" how to interpret sights in a way that the brain can understand -- something the original implementation had difficultly accomplishing. Essentially, an artificial retina "must learn to generate signals that are useful for the brain," and while the group's software should assist users with "flexible" central visual systems to garner new abilities in sight, they warn against "expecting miracles" too soon.[Via MedGadget]
Legally blind Texans may use lasers to pick out prey
Completely bypassing the stunning fact that (legally) blind Texans are actually allowed to wield a weapon and fire at will during regular hunting seasons, a new piece of legislation could allow these folks to see what they're aiming at a wee bit better, which is thrilling news if you're being mistaken for game. Rep. Edmund Kuempel has initiated a bill that would enable legally blind hunters that have a valid Texas hunting license to strap a sweet laser scope on their weaponry in order to pinpoint exactly where the bullet is headed before pulling the trigger. The bill would require the hunter to be accompanied by a (not legally blind) licensed hunter of 13 years or older, and is being pushed as a "reasonable accommodation" for those with disabilities. Hey, we know Texas is good for helping out the less fortunate, but we'd seriously think twice before wandering out into the wilderness for a weekend retreat in the Lonestar state.[Via Fark]
Rogers launches its first HSDPA handset, the Samsung A706
Strike up the band! Rogers, Canada's preeminent GSM provider -- and only, considering that they own Fido -- has launched its first HSDPA handset: the Samsung A706. While the actual live network is still tiny -- covering only a small portion of one province -- the implications are far larger; the fact that handsets are now on sale may point to growth of said network in the near term. The SYNC-ish A706 rolls out the gate with quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE support, dual-band 850 / 1900 HSDPA connectivity, typical lush Samsung screen at 320 x 240 pixels, and a 2 megapixel cam. This marketing focus for this handset will be tying it into Rogers' Vision plans, whereby users can stream TV at a fairly decent 1.8 Mbps. Cost on a 3-year plan is $85 CDN, and if you are quick to get in line, Rogers is throwing in unlimited video calling for the length of the contract.[Thanks, Treatz and JP]
Vision shenanigans: R6 Vegas baby
You find the damnedest things cruising Flickr. Today we found this picture taken from Rainbow Six Vegas created by frasermoo. Yes, that is the face of an infant. The face of an infant mounted onto a lethal terrorist killing machine to be specific. While we can't argue the hilarity of such a juxtaposition, we do have to question the logistics of such an endeavor. What had to be done to keep this child still enough to capture his face this accurately? What nefarious harnesses were put to use for the sole sake of creating a humorous avatar? Hopefully, this baby has a penchant for sitting perfectly still and looking cute all the time.Any Vegas players spot any other freaky avatars out there?
Playing video games improves eyesight
Contrary to what our parents used to say, new research claims that playing video games actually improves eyesight. Tests were conducted on two groups of non-gamers, one of which received 30 hours of "training" on fast-paced action games such as Lost Planet and Halo. This type of game pushes the human visual system to its limits, causing the brain to adapt and, well, level up your sense of spatial resolution, allowing you to see closely-packed objects more clearly.Unfortunately, playing Gears of War won't help you lose the contact lenses. Most visual problems have to do with the eye itself, whereas video games only benefit neurologically-related conditions.But hey, an excuse to play video games is an excuse to play video games.[Thanks, NoHitHair]
Vision Cam works with PS3
The Xbox 360 only accepts the Xbox Live Vision Camera as a means to utilize its Video Chat, Picture Message and Personal Gamer Picture features. That being said, the Vision Camera, being a USB webcam, can work on a PC. You can add the Playstation 3 to the list, as the PS3 now accepts virtually all USB cameras, thanks to its 1.54 firmware update. While only one of our bloggers had the fiscal irresponsibility to pick up a PS3, does this affect any of you multi-platform readers. And if so, how would you feel using the Vision camera during a video chat on the other console?
MIT brain bot mimics humans to recognize street scene
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, robots have been laying it on thick with human-inspired forms since day one. Unfortunately, AI hasn't quite kept up with mechanical achievements, mainly due to the fact that the human brain isn't merely mysterious in many regards, but dang complicated to boot. However, some brain experts at the Tomaso Poggio lab for brain research at MIT have made some impressive gains in bridging the gap. Using a computational model of how the brain processes info, the researchers created a bot capable of recognizing different objects in a street scene. The research is primarily targeted at brain geeks looking for ways to repair damaged brain functions and to better understand the brain's operation, but computer science should benefit from the biological inspiration of this research, and the methods used could lead to computer vision systems capable of better surveillance, car driving assistance, visual search engines and vision for robots. Because of its biological nature, the Poggio lab vision system is trained over time by being shown various street scenes, and the data in each picture is processed in much the same process as the brain goes through when presented with an image. Right now the system just mimics the brain's instant recognition faculties, but soon it'll be capable of putting more thought into what it sees -- for instance, cars do not belong in the sky -- so be warned people of earth: the first step in destroying an enemy is visually recognizing them. Our days are numbered.[Via Medgadget]
Action games said to sharpen your vision by 20%
Even there's a study to prove (and disprove) just about everything, but sometimes a little panacea to help ease our anxieties and foster our addictions. (Cellphones not causing cancer is one that jumps to mind.) Today's comes from the University of Rochester, which, contrary to what your mom always told you would happen to your eyesight, showed that all those hours of Gears of War might just pay off: apparently tested subjects who play action games for a few hours daily experience a "substantial increase in the spatial resolution of their vision", making them about 20% better at identifying letters amidst visual clutter (a test similar to the one the DMV administers to see if you're fit to operate a vehicle). Unfortunately, reducing the eye-strain with less brain-draining titles (like puzzle games, for instance) wasn't found to work -- only action gamers, who need to look closely to find their prey, were shown to increase their acuity. That is, from a couple feet's distance, anyway. We'd really like to see the followup study that shows how near-sightedness is affected by staring for hours at a virtual space represented on a two-dimensional plane. Until then, tell your spouse you're working to improve your vision the next time you're demanded to give up the TV or your computer for more mundane activities.
University of Rochester: Action games improve vision
Science Blog covers a University of Rochester study that says action videogames improve visual processing by 20 percent. A group of students played Unreal Tournament and another group played Tetris, which was selected because of its motor complexity but visual simplicity. After regular training with the respective games, the UT players more easily identified the orientation of a letter "T" among a jumble of other shapes in a crowding test. The Tetris group's responses didn't change.The study suggests that action games alter the way our minds process information even after playing; the researchers think that games could help combat certain visual disorders. We just hope that our improved ability to identify objects makes up for our blurred vision after marathon game nights.
USB-powered Posture Reminder keeps slouching in check
Those kind, considerate folks over at Brando are continuing to look out for the chair-sitter's well-being, as the USB Posture Reminder ranks right up there with the USB drink chiller and USB hair trimmer as goods that any desk-strapped individual should keep nearby. This USB-powered device clips onto the top of your monitor's frame, but instead of enabling video chats, it keeps a constant eye on the distance of your forehead in relation to the screen. The VISOMATE uses an ultrasonic sensor to determine whether your eyes are too close (or not close enough) to your screen; if you see a blue light being emitted, you're doing just fine staying in the 35- to 60-centimeter range, but if you manage to slouch too close and break the 35-centimeter barrier, a flashing red light will alert you to your mistake. If blinking lights aren't enough to cause epileptic fits straighten you out, you can even turn a "Chime" function on to reinforce the severity of bad posture, and you can take the first step in correcting your atrocious leaning habit by plopping down $26 and vowing to actually install it when it arrives.[Via Uber-Review]
MyDo Bururu glasses vibrate your dome to prevent sleep
While there's no shortage of devices that force your eyelids to crack open in the morning, things can get a bit hairy for those late-night cram sessions when you must stay vigilant. As glasses become more like theaters, it's not entirely surprising to see Japan's Vision Optic Company adding superfluous functionality to your everyday spectacles. The vibrating eyewear, dubbed MyDo Bururu, automatically senses when the wearer's head tilts down to a certain angle, and depending on the level of sensitivity you have it set on, will begin to shake, rattle, and roll right up side your noggin until your face returns to an upright position (or you hurl the glasses across the room). Of course, there's no real substitute for a great night's rest, but sometimes duty calls at all times of the day (or night), so if you're a professional student who crams for exams entirely too much, you can hit a pair of these up for around ¥45,000 ($371) -- if you can stay awake long enough to order 'em, that is.[Via PlasticBamboo]
Xbox Live 12 month Vision pack for $66
Are you in need of a Xbox Live gold subscription renewal pretty soon? You know, that will set you back roughly $50 for 12 months. But for only $16 more you can get the Xbox 360 Live Camera Bundle instead. TeamXbox stumbled upon this great Amazon.com deal over the weekend and we must say, it's a good option for those who need to renew their subscription. The bundle includes 12 months of Xbox Live gold access, Vision camera, headset, 200 Microsoft Points, UNO, Robotron and free shipping for $65.95. You just can't beat a $15 savings![Via TeamXbox]
Save $10 on Vision and wireless controller
We've destroyed our Sunday paper looking for good 360 deals and thankfully came upon Circuit City's ad. This week at Circuit City or online you can get the Xbox Live Vision camera for $29.99 and the wireless controller for $39.99. That's a savings of $10 on each item! $30 is a great "try me" price for the Vision camera to see if you enjoy it. And it even comes with UNO in the package and TotemBall to download. Did you find any great Xbox 360 deals in this week's paper or online?
A long distance Xbox 360 Vision X-mas
Over at the Gamerscore Blog Chris posted an account of his first Christmas spent with his family using the Xbox 360 Vision camera. Since moving to Washington our friend Chris hasn't had much interaction with his family and this was his first holiday season without them. What else could he do except purchase his family a Vision camera, get one for himself, and open presents via Xbox Live. Technology bringing together a family, now that's priceless. Have you used your Vision camera to talk with family that lives far away, or newly found friends, or to do some video conferencing? Bringing people together this holiday season, the Vision camera saves the day!
Vegas, face mapping, and you: a video
We recently brought you Major Nelson's Vegas face mapping results, but those were merely pictures. Today we bring you the holy grail of face mapping evidence: video. It seems that the overall goal of face mapping, however, is not to map normal faces. If our previous commenters are to be believed, Vegas players have been trying all kinds of head gear, from sun glasses to Spiderman masks. It's fitting, then, that this video features a woman using the face mapping feature to give Xbox Live a permanent raspberry. Check out the video and tell us what creative things you've done with your Vegas avatar.
