Video projectors will play a major role in future home entertainment and education applications – ranging from movies and television, over computer games, to multimedia presentations. However, we have to give up living space and ambiance to set up artificial canvases that have to be as large as the desired image.
A
Smart projector, developed by Bauhaus University (Germany) researchers, is able to display correct images onto arbitrary existing surfaces, like wallpapered wall or window curtains without artificial canvas.
Image: Smart projector concept. The temporarily detached modular camera component (a) calibrates the projector unit by mimicking the observers’ target perspective so that the projector can display (b) a geometry- and color-corrected image on a curtained window.
"We have developed a fully automatic image correction technique that supports projections of real-time graphics or video content onto everyday surfaces. The output appears as being projected onto artificial (white and planar) canvases. The actual surfaces, however, can be geometrically complex, arbitrarily textured and colored," said Prof. Oliver Bimber.
How it works
Researchers developed a correction methods implemented in software that amend all geometric and color distortions caused by absence of white canvas. The system automatically determines all parameters required for real-time geometric pre-distortion and color correction of video frames delivered by PAL/NTCS compliant devices like DVD players or game consoles, or real-time monoscopic or stereoscopic graphics.
Image: Projecting images onto environmental surfaces. (a) A scruffy corner serves as the projection surface. (b) The uncorrected image. (c) The projector system corrects the image’s geometry and, finally, (d) its color. Displayed content: The Jackal , Universal Pictures.
Neither the geometry of the surface nor internal or external parameters of projector and camera have to be known for calibrating the system. This makes the concept extremely robust and easy to use.
From now on, the projector unit corrects incoming video signals geometrically and photometrically in real-time and images appear as being displayed onto a plane white canvas.
"We introduce a real-time image correction method that allows the projection onto arbitrary surfaces which exist within the particular environment, such as papered walls, colored window curtains, textured table-tops, natural stone walls, etc. This technique is fully automatic and can be implemented in hardware to become a part of off-the-shelf projectors,” said O. Bimber. “Beside the home-entertainment and portable presentation domains, theme-parks, artistic presentations and museums are further areas that will be affected by such a technology."
Image: Projection onto a pitched roof area. The image sequence shows (a) the wallpapered surface, (b) the projection with uncorrected colors, (c) color correction projected onto a white piece of paper, and (d) the
color-corrected image on wallpaper. All projections are geometry corrected.
Furthermore, such a method allows the setup of ad-hoc immersive stereoscopic projections in everyday environments allowing an at-hoc presentation of 3D data (e.g. in your office / meeting room, etc.) It has the potential to make special purpose displays, such as CAVEs and other immersive or semi-immersive projection devices unnecessary.
Related links:
Publication:
Bimber, O., Emmerling, A., and Klemmer, T.
Embedded Entertainment with Smart Projectors
IEEE Computer (cover feature), pp. 56-63, January issue 2005
Videos can be found at:
http://www.uni-weimar.de/~bimber/Pub/SP_MDR.mpg
http://www.uni-weimar.de/~bimber/Pub/SmartProjector.mpeg
http://www.uni-weimar.de/~bimber/Pub/SP_PS2.mpeg
Source: Bauhaus University (Prof. O. Bimber)
Related stories:
Sound Advice: Technology Q&A
Q. Some time ago you said in your column you paid $29 for a SanDisk 4GB high speed SD card, including a card reader. Where did you find the $29 bargain?
3M Launches First Pocket Projector
3M will launch their MPro110 mini projector later this month. With its composite video input, you can use it for presentations, playing games, or watching movies. You can even connect you iPod to the projector and watch movies on a table or wall.
Immaterial display allows viewers to handle 3D images in air
(PhysOrg.com) -- In the future of immersive entertainment, people may not only walk through floating 3D images, but also manipulate the images in thin air. Taking a step toward this reality, researchers have built a prototype of a room-sized 3D immaterial display, demonstrating the possibility of using the technology for a variety of entertainment purposes.
'Virtuality' gets real
(PhysOrg.com) -- Up to now virtual reality has proved cumbersome as a design tool, but European researchers are finalising a system that brings ‘virtuality’ to the wider world.
3-D images – cordless and any time
Securing evidence at the scene of a crime, measuring faces for medical applications, taking samples during production – three-dimensional images are in demand everywhere. A handy cordless device now en-ables such images to be prepared rapidly anywhere.
Perfect projections on surfaces of any shape
Projecting brilliantly sharp images as a single picture onto curved surfaces has previously been a very elaborate and expensive process. Now a new software system automatically calibrates the projectors needed so that the images are superimposed with pixel-precise accuracy. Fraunhofer research scientists are presenting the system at the International Broadcast Convention IBC in Amsterdam.
Miniaturized Full Color Laser Projector at the LASER 2007 show
Fraunhofer IPMS shows a full color laser projection system based on its own two dimensional micro scanning mirror. The system contains an ultra compact projection head and a separate laser and signal processing unit.
InFocus Launches New Business Projectors
InFocus has released its latest projectors designed to help small and midsize businesses improve their business presentations.
