Camera
EU project demonstrates emotional robots
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Researchers estimate that body language makes up between 50-80% of communication, which means robots aren’t ready to become caregivers and companions until they get a good handle on nonverbal expression. To meet these challenges, a €2.5 million EU-funded project is developing robots that are capable of identifying different emotions based on facial expressions Read More
Touch Sight camera for the blind
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Capturing an image takes on a different meaning with the Touch Sight camera. The device makes it possible for the visually impaired to take digital photos by using a Braille-like screen to make a raised image on the user’s forehead of whatever the lens sees. Read More
Californian prisons employ robotic scouts
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California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has agreed to test remote-controlled, 1.2-pound surveillance robots in hostile prison situations. After pulling an activation pin, the hardy robots can be thrown into place, or fired from a tear-gas launcher. Read More
Traveler's GPS receiver stores up to 32,000 way-points
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A travel diary and a pen have long been the technologies of choice when it comes to remembering exactly where you got to on your last holiday, but it seems this just won't cut it in the digital age. Products like Sony's GPS-CS1KA image tracker have been on the market for some time and cameras like the recently released Nikon COOLPIX P6000 offer in-built GPS for geotagging. Hama's solution is the i-gotU, a matchbox-sized GPS receiver that displays your holiday route on a computer and catalogues any photos taken on the way. Read More
Ford Kuga gets clever rear-view camera
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Tailgate mounted cameras are nothing new, but Ford’s new miniature rear-view camera system is enhanced by a very simple idea. Two yellow lines indicating the total width of the vehicle including mirrors are superimposed onto the camera image while a third line marks the vehicle’s center line. The lines move to show the path of the vehicle based on the current steering angle and, while the two lines indicating the width of the vehicle help drivers reverse safely and accurately, the third center line assists in lining up a tow hook with a caravan or trailer. Read More
Casio's EXILIM EX-FH20 high-speed digital SLR
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Casio has introduced a second high-speed EXILIM model to complement the EX-F1 announced earlier this year. The EXILIM EX-FH20 doesn't quite match its formidable sibling in terms of shooting rates, but at a lower price point and still achieving bursts of 40 fps plus high speed movie recording at up to 1,000 fps, it could well appeal to those looking to shoot fast-moving action while still keeping with an eye on their bank accounts. Read More
Mercedez-Benz adaptive high-beam assistant
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We’ve all nearly been blinded and had to flash our high beams at oncoming drivers who have failed to dip their lights, but Mercedes-Benz' latest adaptive lighting innovation could help end of such dangerous incidents by taking driver error out of the equation. The newly developed high-beam assistant system uses a dash-mounted camera to automatically adapt headlamp range to the distance of other vehicles, meaning drivers will at all times benefit from optimum headlamp range by becoming aware of danger spots, pedestrians and other road users more easily and more quickly. Read More
CatCam documents pet adventures
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“Mr Lee” became the internet’s most popular feline when his owner attached a matchbook camera to his collar in order to document the secret life of a cat. Now pet owners can buy their own Mr Lee CatCam to see what their furry friend gets up to when humans aren’t around. Read More
Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic Mobile Device
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What looks like an iPhone, functions like an iPhone, but isn’t an iPhone? Nokia’s new 5800 XpressMusic, that’s what. Nokia would most likely balk at suggestions their new mobile offering is in response to Apple’s ubiquituos device, but comparisons are inevitable with the 5800 sporting similar looks courtesy of a large touch screen, similar looking interface and focus on music. The 5800 XpressMusic will be among the first devices to support "Comes With Music", a Nokia service which offers one year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue. Read More
Machine vision cameras powered via Ethernet cable
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Baumer’s new line of GigE (Gigabit Ethernet) cameras receive power via a Cat6 Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for a separate power cord. The cameras provide machine vision for product lines and robotic applications- a process greatly simplified by the reduction of cables. Read More
Samsung announces Pixon 8MP touch-screen camera phone
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Samsung is looking to satisfy consumers who want more than a second string performance from their mobile phone camera with the announcement of a new full-touch screen, 8-megapixel unit dubbed the Pixon. The slimline (13.8mm) design does look more like a camera than a phone and incorporates a number of features usually found only in the stand-alone camera realm such as face detection, shake-reduction and geo-tagging. The unit's 3.2 inch, 240x400 touch screen also enhances its photo browsing capability and with auto-focus, dual power LED Flash, a music player, FM Radio, Bluetooth connectivity and video recording at 30 fps (720 x 480) including slow motion playback, it looks to be another useful example of convergence in the mobile handset market. Read More
SanDisk ships 45MB/s Extreme IV CompactFlash Card
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SanDisk has used the Photokina trade fair to announce a 12.5-percent jump in speed (now 45 megabytes per second) and the addition of a 16-gigabyte version to its Extreme IV high-performance memory card line. Read More
Nine megapixel camera phone module announced
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These days in-built cameras are very much a standard accessory for mobile phones, and it's an area where the bar just keeps on getting higher. In the latest news, Digital Imaging Systems has launched the first ever 9 megapixel camera module for mobile phones. Designed so that handset manufacturers can upgrade without hardware change, the DIS6931 is an all in one still camera module that includes auto-focus, high quality lenses, mechanical shutter and a neutral density filter. Read More
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR shoots full HD video
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Only a few short weeks ago we heralded Nikon's HD video ready D90 as a landmark "first of many all-in-one imaging devices" that pack the combination of processing technology and quality lenses necessary for capturing BOTH still images and video of the highest standards... and we haven't needed to wait long for the next mouth-watering installment. Canon's EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera not only features a full frame (24 x 36mm), 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, low noise, extended sensitivity range, improved performance in tricky light conditions, two different file size options for shooting in RAW format and a host of other impressive specs, it also captures HD video at an unprecedented 1920 x 1080 resolution at 30 fps. Read More
HTC S740 smartphone
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HTC's latest edition to its "S" range of smartphones takes a conventional 12-key candybar phone design, slots in the company's speciality - a sliding QWERTY keyboard - and adds 3.8 inch wide-screen, 3.2 megapixel and mobile broadband download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps (if your carrier can handle it).
Sony's high-speed Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX
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Sony is releasing the Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX this October, in 4GB and 8GB capacity. The memory card has a reading speed of 20MB/s and a writing speed of 15MB/s - and when used with the supplied USB adaptor, it transfers data one third faster than the Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark 2). Read More
Liquid Image offers hands-free underwater image capture
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The Liquid Image Underwater Digital Camera Mask is a unique two-in-one mask and camera solution that allows you to take hands-free photographs and video underwater. Suitable for use in the pool or the sea, the camera mask could ensure you never miss that magical underwater moment. Taking photographs or video is so simple; you line up your shot using the crosshair marks on the mask and push the capture button. Read More
Canon announces 15.1-megapixel EOS 50D Digital SLR... and more
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Canon's newest EOS digital SLR will hit shelves in October packing a 15.1-megapixel resolution, in-camera photo editing, improved noise reduction and a new DIGIC 4 Image Processor that delivers an expanded ISO range and 6.3 frames-per-second continuous shooting capability. Read More
Hitachi announces updated Blu-ray Disc Hybrid Camcorder
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Hitachi's new has Blu-ray Disc Hybrid Camcorder can record onto either Blu-ray Disc, Hard Drive or SDHC format and promises a number of notable improvements from its predecessor such as a seven megapixel CMOS image sensor, face detection, image stabilization and longer recording time. Read More
Nikon announces six new additions to COOLPIX line-up
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Nikon's latest raft of COOLPIX compact digital cameras share a number of new features designed to give snap-happy consumers better results including smile detection, blink warning and "Scene Auto Selector Mode" which automatically selects the right scene mode according to shooting conditions. The flagship COOLPIX P6000 also offers image stabilization and GPS for geotagging of your best shots, the COOLPIX S60 gets a touch-screen interface, the COOLPIX S610c includes Wi-Fi transfer capabilities and the S710 boasts an impressive 14.5 megapixel resolution. Read More
The Hasselblad H3DII-50
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July 15, 2008 The latest addition to high-end camera specialist Hasselblad’s H-Series is the H3DII-50, and yes, the 50 in the camera’s model number does refer to 50 megapixels thanks to Kodak’s 50 megapixel 36×48mm sensor. This sensor is twice the physical size of the largest 35mm DSLR sensors with Kodak stating that, "at 50 [megapixels] the sensor captures digital images with unprecedented resolution and detail. For instance, with a 50 megapixel camera, in an aerial photo of a field 1-½ miles across, you could detect an object about the size of a small notebook computer (1 foot by 1 foot)." In addition to the increased resolution, the new sensor also provides the foundation for the development of advanced lens performance and optical corrections. Read More
Sony HDR-CX12 Camcorder automatically snaps smiling faces
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Billed as the world's first high-definition camcorder with both "Smile Shutter" and face detection technologies, Sony's HDR-CX12 Memory Stick Handycam camcorder automatically takes a 10 megapixel still photo when it encounters a smiling face - even when in standby mode. Due for release in August at an estimated price point of USD$900, the compact 2.8" x 5.3" x 2.8" camera records full 1920 x 1080 HD video onto Memory Stick PRO Duo™ and Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) media cards and boasts a Carl Zeiss 12x optical zoom lens, a built-in zoom microphone with Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround and image stabilization. Read More
Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro webcam for Mac
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June 25, 2008 Logitech's latest webcam offering is its first Mac-compatible model to feature autofocus technology and Carl Zeiss optics. Read More
StealthVue Pennycam aids reliable surveillance
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It’s frustrating when sophisticated surveillance technology is circumvented by robbers who use a not-so-sophisticated baseball cap to shield their face. Retailers can reclaim the edge with StealthVue’s PennyCam, a hidden camera that provides upwardly-angled pictures of anyone who approaches the counter, delivering a clear, identifiable view of their face.
2GB Flip Video Mino - smaller than a cellphone
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June 18, 2008 In May last year we praised Pure Digital's Flip Video camera for its simplicity, ease of use and instant YouTube upload facility. Now, the Flip has been upgraded - and downsized - with the release of the Flip Video Mino, a 2GB flash video camera that's smaller than the average cell phone, with a 1.5 inch LCD screen and flip-out USB connector for immediate uploading. Read More
Eye-Fi wireless SD memory card range
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The makers of the world’s first wireless SD memory card for digital cameras have complemented the original offering with two additional devices tailored to meet specific user needs. The original Eye-Fi (now called Eye-Fi Share) is joined by the Eye-Fi Explore, which adds geographic location tags to each photo, and the Eye-Fi Home, which is aimed specifically at home users. Read More
Thales UK's optronic mast: the sonar invisible periscope alternative
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Thales UK's optronic mast is a non-hull breaching substitute for a periscope, which rapidly captures a 360 degree scan and sends the image to the console screens in a sub’s operation center. The electro-optics system provides improved surface visibility, while allowing the ship to remain hidden from sonar detection. Read More
envisionCAM video camera, GPS and G-force Event Data Recorder
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April 29, 2008 Big brother has found his way into the company car, so leadfoot drivers beware; he sees, and remembers, and tells all. We wrote recently about the CarCam Voyager, basically a small dash videocam that acts as an infallible witness in accident situations - but the envisionCAM from Advanced EDR systems takes the concept to another level entirely. Read More
RemoteReality 360 degree periscope camera system
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April 15, 2008 RemoteReality has designed a submarine periscope camera system that provides an instant, omni-directional view of surrounding waters. The system, which greatly outclasses the rotating periscope in terms of situational awareness and safety, will be trialled by the US Navy will on a Los Angeles class nuclear submarine later this year. Read More
World’s smallest hi-def camera head from Toshiba
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Toshiba Imaging has launched the world’s smallest HD camera head, measuring just 1.6 inches and weighing only 2.3 oz. It is envisaged that the mini IK-HD1 will be used for scientific imaging and diagnostics, specialty broadcasting, homeland security, and industrial video and inspection applications. Read More
Wide-angle camera improves security surveillance
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Researchers at the University of Alabama (UAH) have developed a wide-angle camera that will assist security forces by enabling them to monitor large areas through high-resolution images taken from a satellite or an airborne craft. The proposed one giga-pixel camera was created after UAH researcher, David Pollock, discovered that if you point a large number of lenses toward a common point, and then make a small correction on each of the lenses, you have a camera with capabilities that far surpass existing technologies. Read More
Plustek updates line of OpticFilm slide scanners
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March 28, 2008 Available this April, Plustek’s new range of OpticFilm professional-grade scanners convert slides into high quality, 48-bit color digital images at a whopping 7200x7200 dpi resolution. Read More
Kingston adds 16GB model to SDHC Memory Card line
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March 10, 2008 Kingston has doubled its the capacity of what was previously its largest SDHC offering by announcing a 16GB SDHC Flash memory card with minimum transfer rates of 4MB per second. Read More
Olympus reveal E-420: the world's smallest interchangeable lens digital SLR
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March 6, 2008 Olympus has again claimed the mantle of the world’s thinnest, smallest interchangeable lens digital SLR camera with the announcement of the E-420. The camera is scheduled to be released in May this year, and is the successor to the E-410 digital SLR released last April. Read More
Olympus Stylus 7x optical zoom digital compact camera
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March 1, 2008 Olympus has crammed a 7 X optical zoom lens into an ultra-compact body in the latest addition to the Stylus (or "Mju"depending on where you are in the world) line of digital cameras. Read More
