University of Central Florida researchers have invented a method that enables people to view more details of distant objects better than existing visual magnification systems can provide. The UCF innovation uses cameras to capture objects at a higher resolution than the human eye and then presents imagery of the objects to a user via an augmented reality (AR) see-through display. Existing visual magnification systems, such as camera zooms and binoculars, typically provide the same level of magnification for all objects in the field of view.
The UCF technology, however, gives users real-time, dynamic control over what they view. Thus, users can selectively amplify the size of a target object's spatially registered retinal projection while maintaining a natural (unmodified) view in the remainder of the visual field. Also, while one user views a magnified object on an AR see-through display, other users can view the same or different target objects on their displays. When individual users face different directions, their displays present a consistent spatial representation of the target relative to their lines of sight.
In one example military application, an integrated AR magnification system enables users to selectively magnify one or more objects, including enemy combatants, civilians, vehicles, ships or airplanes. Another example uses the technology to magnify specific landmarks and road signs for navigation systems such as the heads-up displays in cars.
Technical Details
The UCF invention is a computer-implemented method of intelligently magnifying objects in a field of view using one or more cameras to capture objects at a higher resolution than the human eye can perceive. An example process can consist of the following steps:
Partnering Opportunity
The research team is looking for partners to develop the technology further for commercialization.
Stage of Development
Prototype available.
Virtual
Big Heads: Analysis of Human Perception and Comfort of Head Scales in Social
Virtual Reality, 2020 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User
Interfaces (VR), 2020, pp. 425-433,
doi: 10.1109/VR46266.2020.00063.
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