Eyetap

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C. Aimone with a one-eyed injection-molded EyeTap

An EyeTap[1][2][3] is a device that is worn in front of the eye that acts as a camera to record the scene available to the eye as well as a display to superimpose a computer-generated imagery on the original scene available to the eye.[4][5]

In order to capture what the eye is seeing as accurately as possible, an EyeTap uses a beam splitter[6] to send the same scene (with reduced intensity) to both the eye and a camera. The camera then digitizes the reflected image of the scene and sends it to a computer. The computer processes the image and then sends it to a projector. The projector sends the image to the other side of the beam splitter so that this computer-generated image is reflected into the eye to be superimposed on the original scene. Stereo EyeTaps modify light passing through both eyes, but many research prototypes (mainly for reasons of ease of construction) only tap one eye. EyeTap[7] is also the name of an organization founded by inventor Steve Mann[8][9][10][11] to develop and promote EyeTap-related technologies such as wearable computing.[12][13]

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[edit] Possible uses

Inventor Steve Mann using weather-resistant EyeTap together with a hydraulophone

An EyeTap is somewhat like a head-up display. The important difference is that the scene available to the eye is also available, now, to the computer that projects the Head-up Display. This enables the EyeTap to modify the computer generated scene in response to the natural scene. One use, for instance, would be a Sports EyeTap: here the wearer, while in a stadium, would be able to follow a particular player in a field and have the EyeTap display statistics relevant to that player as a floating box above the player. The EyeTap Criteria are an attempt to define how close a real, practical device comes to such an ideal. EyeTaps will have great use in any field where the user would benefit from real-time interactive information that is largely visual in nature. This is sometimes referred to as "computer-mediated reality",[14][15] commonly known as "augmented reality".[16]

Eyetap has been explored as a potential tool for individuals with visual disabilities due to its abilities to direct visual information to parts of the retina that function well.[17] As well, Eyetap's role in sousveillance has been explored by Mann and Barry Wellman[18]

[edit] Principle of operation

Example EyeTap that maps infrared into visible light

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002244359_btdownload18.html
  2. ^ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_19-1-2004_pg6_4
  3. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-01-12-steve-mann_x.htm
  4. ^ Bergstein, Brian (Associated Press) (2004-01-12). "Professor's 25 years of cyborg life mirrors tech advances". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-01-12-steve-mann_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 
  5. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccmak000.htm
  6. ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/74253046.html?dids=74253046:74253046&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+20%2C+2001&author=Andy+Grieser+Special+to+the+Tribune&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Now+computers+are+built+to+suit+Wearable+technology+has+a+few+wrinkles%2C+but+usage+is+expanding&pqatl=google
  7. ^ "Eyetap Personal Imaging Lab". http://www.eyetap.org/. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
  8. ^ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADA50E603C5306&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
  9. ^ http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2002/03/50976
  10. ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20020720T220000-0500_29167_OBS_CYBORG_GENIUS_CLAIMS_HE_S_THE_NEXT_STEP_IN_HUMAN_EVOLUTION.asp
  11. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/25/science/scientist-at-work-steve-mann-real-life-cyborg-challenges-reality-with-technology.html
  12. ^ Makulowich, John (2001-06-25). "The ultimate wearable computer". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ccmak000.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 
  13. ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/425877971.html?dids=425877971:425877971&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+08%2C+2001&author=Eric+Shinn&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Part+man%2C+part+machine-+all+nerd+%3B+'Wearable+computer'+pioneer+Steve+Mann+keeps+one+eye+locked+on+the+future&pqatl=google
  14. ^ http://news.cnet.com/2008-1082-5067011.html
  15. ^ http://www.cjonline.com/stories/011504/tec_view.shtml
  16. ^ http://news.cnet.com/Snap-photo-first,-answer-questions-later/2100-1028_3-5427788.html
  17. ^ Blind photographer Arun Blake consulting on Eyetap and blindness in 2004 http://lemmingworks.org/aruneyetap/index.html
  18. ^ Mann, S., Nolan, J., and Wellman, B. (2003). Sousveillance: Inventing and Using Wearable Computing Devices for Data Collection in Surveillance Environments, Surveillance & Society 1(3): 331-355

[edit] External links

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