The use of webcams has grown in recent years, and with practically every major chat services supporting them there is a really good chance that the use will continue to increase. However, one camera due on the market in December adds something to the scenario, and I am not just talking a cute design here (although, you have to admit, it really is a friendly looking unit).
The Minoru seeks to give webcam chat users the ability to see each other in 3D. The unit sports two cameras, and is designed to peer over the top of your laptop. The cameras each take a picture,and then software ties the tow pictures in one video. Now, the more astute of the readers may be asking yourself how the end viewer sees the image back as 3D, and yes there are glasses involved.
The process used with the webcams is known as creating an Anaglyph image, with the colors in the glasses being chromatic opposites, hence the red and blue glasses. This is unlike a viewmaster, which has two separate images that lets each eye see the required image in full color. This is also different from current 3D movies, which use special glasses with opposite polarization on each lens, which lets each eye see the required image. In this case the glasses are of the red and blue variety, so dynamic color is probably not part of the equation at this time when it comes to commercially available 3D web cams. However, it should provide for a unique and entertaining experience nonetheless.
A side use of the camera could be in just taking 3D pictures to look at later, which at times can be very handy, especially when there are varying depths to contend with. Now, you should not expect the highest quality snaps from the unit, but in a pinch it could work reasonably well. (Especially given the fact that you will be viewing them through colored glasses). You can also grab 3D videos and upload them to You-Tube, which gives you the ability to share your 3D creations with the world at large.
The camera supports the major chat services such as Skype, AIM, and Windows Live Messenger, so you will probably be able to hook up with your cohorts easily enough. Of course, they will need to have a pair of red/blue glasses on their end beforehand, so it might take a little planning to talk in 3D. The really cool thing is that, if they have a web cam as well, you can see them looking dorky while wearing the special glasses. That alone might be worth the price, and be sure to sue the screen grab so you can treasure those memories.
The Minoru 3D webcam is scheduled to be released in December for the ballpark figure of $100.
Viewing anaglyphs through appropriately colored glasses results in each eye seeing a slightly different picture. In a red-blue anaglyph, for instance, the eye covered by the red filter sees the red parts of the image as "white", and the blue parts as "black" (with the brain providing some adaption for color); the eye covered by the blue filter perceives the opposite effect. True white or true black areas are perceived the same by each eye. The brain blends together the image it receives from each eye, and interprets the differences as being the result of different distances. This creates a normal stereograph image without requiring the viewer to cross his or her eyes.
source: Wikipedia
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