Imaging: 3D and otherwise

For those who may not be aware (very few of you), my area of research is in 3D imaging, specifically making laser range scanners work more effectively. Here's a bunch of imaging articles from the feeds.

Source: http://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=dn10456&feedId=tech_rss20 Early last month, Microsoft (in a transparent bid to usurp Google's stranglehold on geographic searching), released a 3D version of its mapping software. It allows you to take virtual 3D tours of selected cities. in the US including San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Denver, Detroit, San Jose, Phoenix and Houston. This information can be used to do things like urban planing. Google Earth also allows you to download a free interface package to use it's 3D eartch search routine. I haven't tried either, so I'm interested to see read what people think of them.

Source: http://www.bloglines.com/preview?siteid=115086&itemid=3291 Of Course, if you only have the standard mouse and stuff then you might find it challenging to work in a 3D environment. 3Dconnexion has developed a "mouse" called the Space Navigator, designed to make navigating in a 3d space easier. Available for $60(US), it is designed to work with Google Earth and a 3D software package called SketchUp. As usual, Macs are not yet supported. Apparently it also works with a variety of CAD packages as well.

Source: http://www.primidi.com/2006/12/03.html#a1691 So, what can you DO with thsi 3D information? Well, West Virginia University has developed a Geovirtual Reality system that (as the image implies) allows you to superimpose information over what you see when you wear a special headset. It's not really 3D, but it makes use of GPS information to determine your position and orientation, then customize the display for you. This is also referred to by some as Mobile Augmented Reality. Expect to see this as an extension to multi-player gaming some time in the future. Nokia has already demonstrated a prototype system that identifies objects in pictures taken using a cellphone camera.

Source: http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2006/11/28/get_your_gamede.html Looking at other people's 3D work is ok, but most of us (ok, you, not me) don't have access to 3D scanning systems. NextEngine has just released a USB laser range scanner (for Windows users only) which you, too, can have for $2,500(US). The scanner operates in ful colour and is accurate to 0.005-inches. It consists of a laser stripe scanner unit and a "auto-positioner" (a turntable that communicates with the scanner).

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/29/icuitis-latest-the-vr920-headset/ Of course, all this 3D stuff is seriously lacking unless you can see it in 3D. A variety of headsets are available (nto the one shown, this one's due out soon). The one shown here has its own built in microphone and the head orientation can be tracked to allow you to "look around" a virtual reality (like World of Warcraft). Other headsets can be seen here.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/04/phoenix-airport-set-to-test-all-seeing-x-ray/ Phoenix's airport is following Heathrow's lead and is scanning selected passengers with a X-ray scanner. Those who feel uncomfortable about the system are allowed to be patted down instead. Both airports say that images will not be stored, and will only be acquired by people of the same sex as those being scanned. Apparently, more airports are expected to install this technology over the next few years. Civil liberties groups are up in arms, calling the technology "...a virtual strip search."