Apple investigates 3D recording of real-world places, objects
A future iPhone could take recorded video or photos and use the information to render an object or location in 3D, allowing the user to then navigate a virtual environment.
Two new patent applications from Apple revealed this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describe technology that would generate a three-dimensional model of an object or place based on a recording. Users could then navigate the 3D space "in an order other than that of the recording."
One application, entitled "Generating a Three-Dimensional Model using a Portable Electronic Device Recording," deals specifically with the recording aspect. It says that a portable device, like an iPhone, could record more than just video, and rely on other functions like motion sensing components and GPS. This would allow the software to adjust the displayed portion of a three-dimensional model to reflect the movement of the device.
"By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate representation of a three-dimensional environment," the application says. The technology sounds like a mix between augmented reality applications such as Layar, which show the world in real-time through the iPhone camera and overlay digital information on top of the picture, and navigation services like Google Maps, where Street View can allow users to view road intersections and landmarks without physically being there.
These 3D renderings could be used in software as practical as a mapping application, or something simply for fun, like a video game.
If enabled on millions of devices, this sort of 3D mapping could be uploaded over the Internet and then shared with other users, allowing a sort of "hive mind" functionality in generating comprehensive and up-to-date real-world renderings.
The accompanying application revealed this week is entitled "Three Dimensional Navigation Using Deterministic Movement of an Electronic Device." It deals with the navigation of a 3D space generated by a user's recording. Again, this application describes features similar to existing augmented reality applications, but taking it a step further by recording the information for future playback.
"By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment," the document states. "in some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object."
Both applications were originally filed on January 28, 2009. They are credited to Richard Tsai, Andrew Just and Brandon Harris.
Two new patent applications from Apple revealed this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describe technology that would generate a three-dimensional model of an object or place based on a recording. Users could then navigate the 3D space "in an order other than that of the recording."
One application, entitled "Generating a Three-Dimensional Model using a Portable Electronic Device Recording," deals specifically with the recording aspect. It says that a portable device, like an iPhone, could record more than just video, and rely on other functions like motion sensing components and GPS. This would allow the software to adjust the displayed portion of a three-dimensional model to reflect the movement of the device.
"By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate representation of a three-dimensional environment," the application says. The technology sounds like a mix between augmented reality applications such as Layar, which show the world in real-time through the iPhone camera and overlay digital information on top of the picture, and navigation services like Google Maps, where Street View can allow users to view road intersections and landmarks without physically being there.
These 3D renderings could be used in software as practical as a mapping application, or something simply for fun, like a video game.
If enabled on millions of devices, this sort of 3D mapping could be uploaded over the Internet and then shared with other users, allowing a sort of "hive mind" functionality in generating comprehensive and up-to-date real-world renderings.
The accompanying application revealed this week is entitled "Three Dimensional Navigation Using Deterministic Movement of an Electronic Device." It deals with the navigation of a 3D space generated by a user's recording. Again, this application describes features similar to existing augmented reality applications, but taking it a step further by recording the information for future playback.
"By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment," the document states. "in some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object."
Both applications were originally filed on January 28, 2009. They are credited to Richard Tsai, Andrew Just and Brandon Harris.
Comments
I have an idea! How about a 3D antenna that holds a signal!!!
Hey I have another, why don't you stop with the lame jokes?
I have an idea! How about a 3D antenna that holds a signal!!!
I would've laughed at that a week or two ago... Now it's gotten really old I can't even force myself to laugh. I know you're trying to be funny and I enjoyed all the antennagate jokes but it just doesn't work anymore dude.
Nice try though. I'm sure someone else will laugh with you...
Apple's future iPhones may offer 3D recording of places, objects
let's hope they will also offer a different antenna design
let's hope they will also offer a different antenna design
does ANYONE read comments before posting?
Looks like Apple ripped this idea off of Adobe After Effects CS5, which can derive 3D models and scenes from video where the camera is in motion.
So an application filed a year and a half ago of an idea that was clearly in development for some time prior is a ripoff of a program released just two months ago?
OH NOES! APPLE HAS A TIME MACHINE!
let's hope they will also offer a different antenna design
Douche
I have an idea! How about a 3D antenna that holds a signal!!!
Douche.
Looks like Apple ripped this idea off of Adobe After Effects CS5, which can derive 3D models and scenes from video where the camera is in motion.
Motion pictures has been around for a long time too. Do you suggest that Apple/Every other video device is ripping that idea off too? Some people just love to bash. If/When Apple brings this vision to life, I can't wait to see if someone else has done it first, in the same/different execution and/or tries to copy it.
At least they know how to use multi-quote
http://www.optech.ca/i3dhome.htm
Very cool tech - used for forensics among other things to recreate crime scenes. Not as 'cool' as an iPhone/iPod, but it is electronic, and it is portable.
I would've laughed at that a week or two ago... Now it's gotten really old I can't even force myself to laugh. I know you're trying to be funny and I enjoyed all the antennagate jokes but it just doesn't work anymore dude.
Nice try though. I'm sure someone else will laugh with you...
FINE!
A future iPhone could take recorded video or photos and use the information to render an object or location in 3D, allowing the user to then navigate a virtual environment. ...
Personally, I'm getting really tired of hearing about these whiz-bang futuristic patents from Apple. They never implement them, so why bother even getting excited?
It was especially disappointing after that strong run of absolutely fantastic patents they came out with when they were inventing the iPhone/iPad, to have it then turn out that Apple used absolutely *none* of those patents in the resulting devices! Argh!!! Need I mention the now five or ten year old patent about using an LCD screen as a camera that pops up with great regularity on sites like this?
This is another perfect example. There is no way this patent will be implemented for five or ten years at the soonest. It probably won't be implemented at all. Why bother with this junk? It's all pretty much just reprinted or stolen from this site anyway:
Patently Apple
If I'm feeling particularly masochistic I can always go there. This has absolutely nothing to do with Apple's current or near future products.
Personally, I'm getting really tired of hearing about these whiz-bang futuristic patents from Apple. They never implement them, so why bother even getting excited?
It was especially disappointing after that strong run of absolutely fantastic patents they came out with when they were inventing the iPhone/iPad, to have it then turn out that Apple used absolutely *none* of those patents in the resulting devices! Argh!!! Need I mention the now five or ten year old patent about using an LCD screen as a camera that pops up with great regularity on sites like this?
This is another perfect example. There is no way this patent will be implemented for five or ten years at the soonest. It probably won't be implemented at all. Why bother with this junk? It's all pretty much just reprinted or stolen from this site anyway:
Patently Apple
If I'm feeling particularly masochistic I can always go there. This has absolutely nothing to do with Apple's current or near future products.
Not totally true. If you check back over the years many have materialized in one shape or another. I recall the new trackpad for example..
Not totally true. If you check back over the years many have materialized in one shape or another. I recall the new trackpad for example..
I generalised for certain, but all the really cool futuristic ones like this never materialise at all in my experience. Something about a new kind of process for machining aluminium might, but then those are not the interesting ones.
It is however, a great step towards augmented reality.
Ken
Probably a bogus patent - this has been around for ages:
http://www.optech.ca/i3dhome.htm
Very cool tech - used for forensics among other things to recreate crime scenes. Not as 'cool' as an iPhone/iPod, but it is electronic, and it is portable.
There are a lot of apps/products in this overall space:
- Videopano: an iPhone app that allows you to put your iPhone in video mode and spin around to create panos
- RealPlaces: lets people create their own 3d walk-around places from still images (low-tech, but cool)
- Photosynth: microsoft's web toy that pieces together images from the web (also in hive-mind) to generate a cute semi-3d-ish space (higher-tech, but you don't have any control over the end product).
And there are tons more, but none of this means this patent app is bogus. If it embodies something new and unique on top of what already exists, they can add it to their huge portfolio.