Head Tracking Allows Glasses Free 3D on iPad
MacStories points to an interesting use of the iPad's front facing camera to provide a convincing 3D effect on the iPad. Jeremie Francone and Laurence Nigay from the Laboratory of Informatics of Grenoble put together this demo video showing how user tracking can be used:
We track the head of the user with the front facing camera in order to create a glasses-free monocular 3D display. Such spatially-aware mobile display enables to improve the possibilities of interaction. It does not use the accelerometers and relies only on the front camera.
Francone and Nigay were inspired by the work of Johnny Lee who built a similar system using a Wii system. The app does not yet appear to be available for download. We had previously reported that Apple was also exploring this type of 3d "hyper reality" displays for the Mac desktop based on a patent application published in 2009.
The user could then move their head left and right to look around a 3D object as shown in the example image above. Apple also suggests that it could also be applied to 2D objects like windows to provide some added depth to traditionally flat objects.
As with all patent applications, we don't know if Apple will ever deliver these technologies to market, but 3D has become a trendy topic once again, so there's been a lot of renewed interest in this field.Top Rated Comments
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Can also use the gyro / accelerometer to do it, but cool idea.
The demo shows both. The gyro/acceleration works when the iPad is moving and the head is still. The head tracker adds to the effect when the iPad is still and the head is moving. The combination should be quite nice.
'Labyrinth LE' is one that I know of right now, but it's just a way to make it look cooler. The gameplay doesn't depend on it. I look forward to seeing others push the limits like this. That one works when you move the iPad...this head-tracking one has the advantage of being able to leave the iPad on a table while you only move your head.
This could lead to some amazing games, like maybe one where you control something on the iPad with your iPhone as the controller and the screen on the iPad 'moves' based on how you move your head. You could literally look 'around' objects in the game while it sits propped up on a table in front of you.
Looks awesome!
This 3D tech is not as cool as it looks in these videos. Both your eyes receive the same image, so your brain knows its not 3D. Nothing will look like its "popping" out of your screen at you.
Well, considering that nothing is "popping" out of Youtube at me right now I'd say that it'll be exactly like it looks in these videos!
While a neat technology, it's a bit of a stretch to really call this "glasses-free 3D". Unlike the 3DS, where actual illustion of depth is present, this is just changing the perspective on a rendered 3D object on the screen based on head position. The image that the left and right eye sees are the same, thus no actual "3D" effect.
Plus this has been done on the DSi before.
Still neat.
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