Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays using the WiiRemote & PS Eye *

You could also use like Wiimote large IR (or light) sources that occupy a clump of pixels, giving you a size from which can be derived distance.
 
Thats amazing the 3D effect looks really cool even if it would affect game play it would still be great bring on the playboxwii 720 xD.
 
The Wiimote was neat because it's a Wiimote, the PS Eye isn't because it's a high quality web cam basically. It's been around for some time using that method.
 
It's about making technology accessible. Both are great solutions using old techniques. I don't really know which is cooler or neater other than thanking the people involved for devoting the time.
 
Skrying said:
The Wiimote was neat because it's a Wiimote, the PS Eye isn't because it's a high quality web cam basically.
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:???: They're both 'webcams'. What's interesting in this example is that the PSEye is sensitive to IR so can be used with IR trackers. This opens up the potential for IR markers on props and a separate IR filter for PSEye to enable head tracking. If that were put into effect, PS3 would actually be in a better position than Wii as the player would have the controller to play with, whereas on Wii your controller would be sat under the TV watching you! You'd should also get better sensitivity from the PSEye implementation due to the higher resolution.

So you're right, the technique isn't new, but it's not new in Wii either. The only new thing about Wiimote is sticking a camera in the controller. All the technology otherwise is nothing exciting - it's the software that's smart and impressive, and this vid shows you can turn a webcam into an IR cam with a bit of simple DIY.

Also this vid sets one thinking about other options. How's about closing exposure right down and using coloured LED markers? These would then be easily trackable and identifiable, allowing for two player or multi-point interactions. And then if you're going into lens attachments, you could add split lens to divide the room better into two sides, or various useful filters. It's a shame none of these ideas will ever amount to anything...
 
Skrying said:
The Wiimote was neat because it's a Wiimote, the PS Eye isn't because it's a high quality web cam basically. It's been around for some time using that method.
Click to expand...

I remember sometime someone posted a patent from sony in the forums using that exact same concept.

The only difference is that the camera was supposed to detect the leds from the controller and enable the SIXAXIS to give more aaccurate motion input very similar to that of the Wiimote.

I am glad that I see this being possible with the PS3 as well.

It doesnt matter if the PS Eye camera is just a high quality camera. The functionality is what makes it worth taking notice.

What is great about the Eye camera is that the camera is where it is supposed to be whereas the demonstration of the Wiimote, needs you to put your Wiimode in front of your TV.

The advantage that the Wii has though is that any Wii owner has a Wiimote unlike the PS3 camera
 
Shifty Geezer, just add in the classic controller for the Wii. Since like the PS Eye it is a separate product.

Also, saying the Wiimote is in the "wrong" place is weird. Where is it suppose to be? In your hand? Didn't see that rule. It's a input device, it can be "right" anywhere you put it.
 
Shifty Geezer said:
Also this vid sets one thinking about other options. How's about closing exposure right down and using coloured LED markers? These would then be easily trackable and identifiable, allowing for two player or multi-point interactions. And then if you're going into lens attachments, you could add split lens to divide the room better into two sides, or various useful filters. It's a shame none of these ideas will ever amount to anything...
Click to expand...

Yes, the video got me thinking as well. Your idea of using different colored LED is great as well.

How does IR remote work ? Can PS Eye detect IR remote signals once I attach the appropriate lens filter ?
 
The Wiimote was clearly designed for use in the hand. It's not 'wrong' to put it elsewhere, but it's not the most sensible application. Like you could wield the Sixaxis like a tennis racquet, but it wouldn't be great and in that sense could be said to be 'wrong'. Leaving the motion detection and buttons on the top/bottom of the TV.

It's all redundant discussion anyway. No game or implementation is going to use this tech. The original was a guy playing around and doing something cool with an easily attainable IR camera, and this PS3 tech is a technological response in the same field showing the choice of camera isn't that important. Neither is actually trying to develop a real commercial player tracking system and concern themselves with final player experience.
 
patsu said:
How does IR remote work ? Can PS Eye detect IR remote signals once I attach the appropriate lens filter ?
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Lots of camera CCD can see the IR from a remote as a lit up spot, such as a bright area on a video. According to this, signals are sent in binary code with diode pulses. So you press a button and the IR diode flashes as white spots on your camera. If you slap a filter over it (liked the film solution!) then the visible spectrum is blocked out and you get the IR only. This likely works with truckloads of webcams and video cameras.
 
Sorry if this is incorrect,

I thought the new Eye Toy was designed to use IR to begin with. What I mean is why would he have to filter out everything else just to track the IR; or did he just do that to make it easier?

Does the PS3 Eye Toy emit IR? If it emits IR then shouldn't he just be able to use reflective tape to track instead of full blown IR leds?

If you decide to respond with a link explaining this stuff and a nice sarcastic remark that would be great :D


Dregun
 
Dregun said:
I thought the new Eye Toy was designed to use IR to begin with. What I mean is why would he have to filter out everything else just to track the IR; or did he just do that to make it easier?
Click to expand...
It wasn't designed to use IR, but a side effect of CCD tech is that the sensor is sensitive to IR. And that's across red, green and blue sensor, so all are excited by IR light. The end result is IR light is detected as if it were a bright white source. Mixed in with the visible light, it appears to be a white dot in the middle of all the other visible noise of the room and player. The filtering removes the visible light and leaves only the IR portion, so those same IR dots that appear as bright spots become white dots floating in a black screen. So yes, he did it to make it 'easier'.

Does the PS3 Eye Toy emit IR? If it emits IR then shouldn't he just be able to use reflective tape to track instead of full blown IR leds?
Click to expand...
Pretty much everything emits IR ;) But no, it doesn't have a designed IR emission system like, say, a night-vision camera with an IR lamp to illuminate the scene, and it won't be putting out more IR than the TV or electrics or radiators or some hot, buttered toast on the coffee table. Any IR illumination would need to come from a specific source, such as these LEDs. Though your principal is right. You could stick an IR lamp with the TV and where special reflective bands to mark out areas, like arms, head, legs. That'd give more sources for tracking, but would be tricky. Coloured markings would be a lot easier, and in that respect the idea of block colour props works well, but they'd need to contrast with clothes and scenery. Closing exposure right down and using coloured light sources would solve that. If you can get reflective strips in different colours, you could use a lamp and wear those. Such a design would never take off though - way too much faf!
 
Shifty Geezer said:
No game or implementation is going to use this tech. The original was a guy playing around and doing something cool with an easily attainable IR camera, and this PS3 tech is a technological response in the same field showing the choice of camera isn't that important. Neither is actually trying to develop a real commercial player tracking system and concern themselves with final player experience.
Click to expand...

Because somebody else already has (and there are several games that support it).
 
Skrying said:
The Wiimote was neat because it's a Wiimote, the PS Eye isn't because it's a high quality web cam basically.
Click to expand...
I would think accessibility has more to do with it then any supposed "coolness" (or lack of thereof).
Last I checked, both Wiimote and PSEye cost about 40$ at retail.

archie4oz said:
Because somebody else already has (and there are several games that support it).
Click to expand...
But it comes down to mass exposure and the right marketing doesn't it? I mean stylus games existed for a good decade before NDS, and no gamers (most especially casual ones) gave a damn about it (and for good reasons, to be honest).

I'd guess both of these approaches have better chances of any visible market success then the PC one ever did.
 
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