Live data from Hacker News

Go Pro on a soaring eagle [video]

kottke.org

71–80 of 85 posts

Re: Go Pro on a soaring eagle [video]

#71
post #52

When I got my Oculus dev kit I was most excited about the potential for designing interactive experiences driven by unity / 3d graphics. Then I checked out a "wingsuit" video shot in 360 degrees and realized I had completely missed the potential of the platform: http://www.makingview.com/makingview.com/?page_id=1691 The resolution is mediocre but for a first-gen experience in VR I was literally floored. I showed thes…

These 360 rigs are cool, but they're not stereoscopic as far as I can tell. I'm not sure how feasible a 360 AND stereoscopic rig would be, but it would be totally awesome. Maybe some sort of head-sized sphere of fisheye cameras with some software to stitch the stereoscopic channels together. Or maybe something involving light field photography (Lytro etc).

Actually, stereoscopic vision is overrated.

There are many hits our brain uses to make the 3D model of the world we have on our minds. Stereoscopic vision is one of them, but really just kick in for objects nearer than you arm cam hold. For distant objects, our brain uses other hints - that's why people aiming at far objects close one of their eyes.

One of the strongest is the parallax effect, specially for medium distance and relative distance between objects. If you doubt it, look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

Relative size and color fading works well for big distances - this is the prominent effect in parachuting videos.

These are only two mecanisms, and immersion is not only about 3D sensation. Full periphery vision is of great value for this (IMAX, anyone?). Sound hints, brigthness, contrast, and a lot of other hints also help our brain making the 3D model.

Re: Go Pro on a soaring eagle [video]

#72
post #35

This is like paragliding :) But without the hassle of collapses, material problems and a wee bit faster.

exactly like paragliding.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zr6gf1OejE

Ps. If you fly laminar air from the ocean there are hardly any collapses, regarding speed ~ 40kmh

Re: Go Pro on a soaring eagle [video]

#74
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The one video I really remember was a drone with a GoPro I think in Bangkok and it was going straight down the sides of skyscrapers and going over the top of the city. It was an amazing video and I can't seem to find it anymore.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=L55M7_gu87I around 2:19

Wow. The first thing I thought was, if you tried this in New York you'd be arrested for terrorism and thrown into a Guantanamo prison.

Re: Go Pro on a soaring eagle [video]

#76

The first time I saw this was Human Planet, in an episode about Kazakh hunters training Golden Eagles to hunt foxes for them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y3Dl0BGFfw The extras part of the documentary includes a behind-the-scenes look at getting the birds-eye shot.

There is a series on PBS in the US called Earthflight. It's breathtaking: http://schedule.wttw.com/series/20052/Earthflight-A-Nature-S...

Re: Go Pro on a soaring eagle [video]

#77
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These 360 rigs are cool, but they're not stereoscopic as far as I can tell. I'm not sure how feasible a 360 AND stereoscopic rig would be, but it would be totally awesome. Maybe some sort of head-sized sphere of fisheye cameras with some software to stitch the stereoscopic channels together. Or maybe something involving light field photography (Lytro etc).

Actually, stereoscopic vision is overrated. There are many hits our brain uses to make the 3D model of the world we have on our minds. Stereoscopic vision is one of them, but really just kick in for objects nearer than you arm cam hold. For distant objects, our brain uses other hints - that's why people aiming at far objects close one of their eyes. One of the strongest is the parallax effect, specially for medium di…

As you say, for far objects, stereoscopic vision doesn’t do much; however, that can be changed..

A really fun project I recommend anyone try is to make a sort of periscope for one eye [make one out of e.g a milk carton and a couple of rectangular mirrors, or some similar tube].

Leave one eye looking out normally, and make the other eye look through the periscope, aimed sideways. The result of this is to increase the effective distance between the two eyes from a couple inches to a foot or more (depending on your periscope).

Now try looking at distant objects like a cityscape or some mountains. The stereo effect will be increased dramatically, and the whole scene will feel very dimensional and close.

Post reply on HN