Over the centuries some of our best inventions have been inspired by the nature that surrounds us. From our feathered friends who inspired us to take to the skies to the sea creatures that inspired us to make better suits for our Olympic swim teams, nature influences our advancements in all branches of technology, possibly even the way we're able to shoot video.
NocturnalVision, a Swedish company, patented a new technology inspired by the eyes of a small tropical bee (Megalopta genalis), as well as other nocturnal insects. Combining their study of these insects with mathematics, NocturnalVision's algorithm opens up the possibility of a camcorder with full-color night vision.
According to CNET, NocturnalVision uses an approach called "spatiotemporal summation." The technology works by analyzing the image in each frame of video, as well as the action from one frame to the next in order to recognize pixels changing from light to dark, or from dark to light. From there it determines how to reduce the visual noise by calculating which pixels should be preserved, and which ones should be suppressed. Essentially, the technology makes it possible to shoot video in dimly lit conditions without the issue of grainy images.
As of right now, the new technology works, but at processing speeds too slow (five frames per second) to keep up with a cameras frame rate. NocturnalVision is, indeed, interested in applying this technology to camcorders and camera phones, but is currently seeking venture capital.
March 25th, 2010
