Photosynth - the Future of Image Browsing Over the Internet

[sheld0n]

If you've ever tried combining a bunch of pictures to create a panorama, I'm sure you know what a pain in the ass it can be. It takes a lot of skill and time not only when you combine the pictures, but also when you take them.

Well, it seems like those days are over and panoramic pictures are going to become much more common very soon, all thanks to photosynth. Photosynth is a program that automatically gathers pictures of specific objects on the internet and groups them together, creating a map of that object based on them. The program then procedes to place the pictures in 3D space, in relation to eachother, so that they recreate the object you searched for. It's hard to describe, but the effects are pretty amazing.

Imagine you google "Statue of Liberty" and instead of getting thousands of separate pictures (taken by tourists and such), you get one big 3D mosaic of all those pictures combined together.

Check out this video (http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129) to get a better idea of the impact that this technology might have on future image browsing.

Here (http://labs.live.com/photosynth/), you can actually test it out for yourself

[Solos]

This is awe inspiring technology. Although I am sad because it is in the hands of Microsoft, which means it will never reach its ultimate potential because Microsoft does things for the good of its share holders, not for the good of society. On the other hand, if the opened up the technology so there's no lawyers and no fees involved, then it would be stellar!
Yes, because Apple are a non-profit organisation.


I couldn't hear the audio on this computer so i'll watch it again when i get home. Does it say anything about subjects that aren't always the same though? If it can only do it with non-moving subjects then the only real use i can think of is if i want to take a virtual tour of Times Square. Most of the stuff i GIS is of people or fictional characters, and since they are always in different poses i don't see how this would revolutionise that at all.

[Nerfed]

The real question:


How is this going to affect internet porn?

[thebluecanary]

The real question:


How is this going to affect internet porn?

3D Internet porn that doesn't look like crap? WOW. The future is here.

[Kinetix]

Yes, because Apple are a non-profit organisation.


It's made by Microsoft. The same things stands though.

[Dynamo-Man]

I think his point was that it would be for profit, no matter who made it. Sarcasm FTW! :D

[Solos]

The real question:


How is this going to affect internet porn?

that's my point, nothing. Unless they set up like 100 cameras to go off simultaneously. I don't see how this would work if the subject moved.

[Kozzma]

I see 2 issues with this in general, but for the most part it look freaking awesome..
1. it looks like it extrapolates on NON moving objects although you can Pick out a specific picture. The issue I see with is time lapse, some things move, degenerate, get repaired etc. which leads me to the second.

2. Movies, time lapse film etc. there incorporating all these images as a “virtual tour” so how will home video and professional video play into this? If you have 1,000s of tourists visit a landmark and circle around etc with video which gets put on the web then does the system consider each Fame as just that? And then how can it validate time stamps to do a accurate chronological representation via another slider bar?

Oh and I like my Pr0n the way it is. every woman unique, to blend any of there landmarks could be folly.. GriN

[Jade_Dragon]

So if they were to take any of the pictures that were taken at that demonstration, and then feed them into the Photosynth system, would that cause the universe as we know it to fly apart or something? (Maybe if they then took pictures of THAT demonstration...)

[sheld0n]

As far as I understand, since the program analyzes photos based on their actual content and not only the filename, if you wanted to make a mosaic of something that changes over time, the way it would work, is you'd have to make a different "collection" for each time period.
For instance, if you wanted to make a mosaic of WTC pre 9/11, the program would not recognize post 9/11 ground zero photos and you'd have to make a whole new "collection" for those.

that's my point, nothing. Unless they set up like 100 cameras to go off simultaneously. I don't see how this would work if the subject moved.

It really just depends on the program's level of tolerance (like the magic wand tool in photoshop). In the presentation, parts of the Notre Dame are covered by people's faces and such, and these pictures still get recognized. Even that poster picture made it in.
So all it would really take is one person walking around the model and taking the pictures. If she moved slightly, it wouldn't really matter.

[bpphantom]

Although I would really like complete compilations of some pr0n starlets scenes.

Some of those flicks are dang hard to hunt down online without *shudder* paying for the video.

[Plasma Wisp]

I love the parts when the speaker says something incredible and the audience begins to mutter about. Blowing nerdminds are always funny.

[Jade_Dragon]

It really just depends on the program's level of tolerance (like the magic wand tool in photoshop). In the presentation, parts of the Notre Dame are covered by people's faces and such, and these pictures still get recognized. Even that poster picture made it in.
So all it would really take is one person walking around the model and taking the pictures. If she moved slightly, it wouldn't really matter.

Does kind of make you wonder what features would be selected to create the point map... :look:

[razoras]

Hey Sheldon, can you update the link to here: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129

This isn't a knock on you, but why the hell people steal FREE VIDEO off a FREE SITE just to post on their YouTube account? Always pisses me off. Plus, the actual TED player is much better.

TED, by the way, is awesome ****. Look around at various things, it's all pretty awesome.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks

[sheld0n]

Hey Sheldon, can you update the link to here: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129

This isn't a knock on you, but why the hell people steal FREE VIDEO off a FREE SITE just to post on their YouTube account? Always pisses me off. Plus, the actual TED player is much better.


Sure thing.
I posted a youtube version because that's the link my gf sent me when she was telling me about it.

[razoras]

I know, my mini rant wasn't aimed at ya or anything. Or your womang.