Flexible Image Sensor

Scientists calculated that the human eye can produce images that would have to be captured by 576 megapixel sensor in order to reproduce the exact detail. Later on, scientists deduced that the human eye has a light sensibility close to the ISO 800 standard in digital cameras. Traditional image sensors are flat and this (let alone the smaller pixel count) makes them less efficient then our rounded retina. Recently, the quality gap between human vision and digital sensors seems to have been reduced when researchers at Northwestern and U. Chicago have found a way to create a traditional photo sensor that flexes without breaking.

According to Gizmodo, the new optic system works by linking the individual pixels of the sensor with flexible wires, which allow the sensor itself to adjust its shape according to the available light. This will result in more efficient and compact lenses for endoscopes but it can also be used in prosthetic eyes. The scientist only built a 256 pixels prototype to test the efficiency, but apparently the manufacturing process is similar to current sensors so the researchers are confident they can scale it up quickly.

Will they be testing these with cats again? Don’t know why, but I have a strange feeling we’ll be invaded by cyborg cats soon.

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50 Megapixel Camera

The race for megapixels seems to have been suspended when we look at the current DSLR cameras. Canon reached the 20 MP barrier and it seems no one wants to cross that line. Sure, they say the number of MPs is not that important and the image quality is heavily influenced by high quality lenses and image processors. Then again, I think professional photographers would be pretty happy to know that Hasselblad is now offering a 50 MP camera.

The new 50 Megapixel H3DII-50 represents the 4th generation of the Hasselblad H-system, the ultimate high-end DSLR camera system. According to the U.S.-based company, the H3DII-50 brings all the advantages of a truly integrated DSLR to the large sensor format, enabling all photographic parameters to be optimized and resulting in an unsurpassed level of image quality. The H3DII-50 provides improved controls and functionality, better sensor cooling, a new and more intuitive user interface, and a bright, 3” display

The new DSLR titan comes with eye and waist level viewfinders and an integrated CCD cooling sink, which make it quite massive for a medium size. There are all sorts of compatible lenses and a host of accessories that are meant to further improve the final quality of you photos and you can find more info about all these on the Hasselbald official site.

I’m not sure if I should mention this, but the camera also features a “pretty decent” $39,995.00 price tag.

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Funny Military Spybots

Want to see how military cameras look these days? Check out this picture.

Yep, that would be a seagull on the left side, but that’s like the tip of the iceberg. Underwater, there’s a Macroswiss electrically-propelled remote control surveillance cameras. Macroswiss is also known for manufacturing small gun-mounted targeting cameras that allow operatives to point their firearms around corners and shoot whatever’s on their wrist-mounted screen like it’s a video game.

Hydrobot surveillance camera appears to be a seagull sitting on a water surface when viewed from above, but if we actually go underwater, we could be able to see it’s actually a remote-controlled, twin-propeller camera droid that transmits visuals back to home base where a surveillance target is visible from the water.

Gizmag informs that Macroswiss has recently signed on as the U.S. Army’s provider of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), and to this end has released large and small versions of its Spybot amphibious all-terrain remote control camera vehicle. Running on large paddle wheels that enable good traction on earth, concrete, mud or water surfaces, the Spybots are simple to use and ruggedly built. The smaller Spybot Micro is tough enough to be thrown some distance into its operational area, and will operate just as happily whichever side it lands on. While these are simply moving camera platforms at present, it doesn’t take too much imagination to see an armed spybot over the horizon with the ability to target and shoot, deploy teargas or smoke, or even detonate as a moving mine.

I bet bots are going to take the place of human soldiers in the future. Replicating bots, that is.

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360-degree Camera/Lens

Olympus is a respectable photo camera manufacturer that didn’t really set any trends. But that could be some sort of understatement if we take a look at what the manufacturer prepares for us now. It may not be a trend, but it sure looks like Olympus wants to come up with something innovative here. Let’s see… Olympus has just come up with a 360-degree camera and lens. Does that mean HDR imagery is going to become mainstream any time soon?

<-234x60 Half Banner - left->Well, not necessarily. According to Olympus, this new camera will be perfect for surveillance mavens. It turn out that the new 360-degree camera works like the Google Maps Street View Dodeca 2360 camera, shooting in all directions. However, the Olympus model uses only one lens instead of an array of 11. Unfortunately, the new lens isn’t capable of shooting in a 360 degrees vertical plane like Google’s camera, but it easily manages a 180-degree vertical view.

DVice informs that Olympus did not care to mention anything about availability and pricing for this camera/lens combo. Anyhow, Olympus shouldn’t restrict availability only for the surveillance hardware market. Just imagine how video conferencing would benefit from such a device. Placing this camera in the middle of a conference room table and coupling it with Super Hi-Vision devices and some software that would enable an accurate directional microphone, this setup could pinpoint who’s talking and frame up a perfect shot of each participant at the appropriate time with no mechanical panning necessary. Sure, the camera/lens combo could get a bit expensive, but then again, plane ticket prices get ridiculously high in the summer.

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Spy Camera Pen

Bond… James Bond is returning to the big screens this year in the much anticipated “Quantum of Solace.” We’ll see some more cool gadgets in action and some of these might even get commercialized. I don’t know if this will actually be presented in the film, but the new pen recorder is ready to give gadget cravers something to chew on until the movie gets released.

With the new DVR Camcorder Pen you can record important footage of you girlfriend doing some nasty things… OK, that didn’t come out right. Let me reformulate. You can record footage that can be added as proof against some criminal. Or better yet, students won’t ever have to right things on paper with this thing pointed at professors.

However, you can still use it like normal pen, since it has enough gel. The hidden camera that can record color video and sound is located somewhere beneath the ball point. Enough storage space is included to record 30 hours of video, you should be aware of the fact that the tiny battery only lasts for about 2 hours. There’s a 2GB and a 4GB version and the pen connects directly to your PC via USB to view the video. The 2GB version costs $199.95 while for the 4GB one you’ll have to pay $50 more. You can order one of these from the Brick House Security page.

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