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Google has recently unveiled its latest project in development, Google Glass. Essentially a smart pair of glasses with a built in camera and projector (we’re not sure what oem camera they use, but we are sure it’s going to be amazing) to display visual notifications on a tiny prism screen that sits right above your line of sight. Allowing the user to see whats on display by glancing up. The glasses also include an embedded GPS, microphone, and uses bone induction to give you sound for a total interactive experience. Their mission is to make wearable computing mainstream. But even with all its potential, there are still a lot of questions to be answered for this new technology. Some worry about potential accidents that can occur with a distracting heads up display. While others debate the issue of privacy as the thought of everything you say or do while wearing them could potentially be taped, turned into text and searchable. But with every new advanced technology there will also be ways to abuse it, we just have to weigh in its capacity for good and the progress it could bring.

A Wrist Worn Device that Allows You to Control Your Gadgets Ever wish you could answer a call, turn up the volume, or play your favorite video game using just hand gestures? Enter Microsoft Digits, a wrist-worn sensor that turns your hand gestures into virtual movements with the use of small cameras and IR sensors. Digits allows you to interact with various gadgets wherever you go, all from the one device. As of now, Digits prototype is a bit large and cumbersome, however developers are working to reduce the size of the unit making it more practical for every day use. How it works: An infrared (IR) camera sensor located on the device detects an IR beam emitted from the device. The camera sensor detects the distance to the user’s fingers to determine how the hand is bent. Additional rings of IR LED’s illuminate the hand to determine the position and direction of the hand. Software then uses the data to construct a real-time 3D model of the hand. Because the sensors are located on the device, the user has no range restrictions, allowing them to move about freely. What do you think? Would use for Digits?

Jump Complete! 10/14/12 On Sunday October 14, 2012 Flix Baumgartner completed his highly anticipated “Skydive From the Edge of Space” becoming the first man to break the speed of sound. For full detail on the jump visit www.redbullstratos.com Update 2: The Red Bull Stratos jump has once again been postponed. The team is hoping to launch Sunday October 14, 2012. You can still catch it live right here! Update: After delaying the original date of the record breaking free fall, Red Bull Stratos has rescheduled for today 10/9/12! You still have time to catch daredevil “Fearless Felix” this afternoon – weather permitting. Original Post: Skydiver Felix Baumgartner, aka Fearless Felix, is preparing to break the sound barrier and world’s record for highest free fall. On October 9, 2012 Felix Baumgartner is scheduled to ascend to an altitude of 120,000 feet (23 miles) before free-falling back to earth – breaking the speed of sound, and the world record. 43 year old “Fearless Felix” will float up to his destination courtesy of the world’s largest balloon, which happens to be taller than the Statue of Liberty. The polyethylene balloon is only .0008 inches thick and will be towing a pressurized capsule sponsored by Red Bull, in which Felix will be eagerly awaiting his jump. The capsule, named Stratos, is equipped with 15 high-tech cameras so the ground control can monitor Felix and the voyage. Additionally, three cameras will be fitted on Felix’s jumpsuit to collect footage from the free-fall at speeds up to 700mph. Camera technology has drastically changed from the simple camera system used in the first world record set in 1960 by Joe Kittinger, a retired Air Force colonel who will be in attendance to watch his record be surpassed. In the 1960 jump, hot water bottles surrounded the cameras to avoid the systems from freezing at such high altitudes where temperature dips well below-70°. The cameras used for the 2012 jump are very sophisticated. The systems consist of hi-def moving and still image cameras, 3 channels of live broadcasting, and high quality cinematography cameras. The on-board cameras are sealed in nitrogen pressurized housings to avoid any weather, pressure, or temperature damage. The footage acquired is very important for scientist to analyze the experience. The Red Bull Stratos is providing the first steps to developing life saving procedures for astronauts and pilots. “Proving that a human can break the speed of sound in the stratosphere and return to earth would be a step toward creating near-space bailout procedures that currently don’t exist.”

The sense of sight is arguably the most complex of the five senses. Take a few moments to consider, what if one day the world as you know it went black… The ability to see is one of the most intricate processes of the human body. Unfortunately every day thousands of people suffer eye injury or are diagnosed with eye disease, taking away this priceless function. In this video Rob Spence, self-named “Eyeborg”, suffered a debilitating eye injury that left him with only one eye. Spence teamed up with engineers and was fitted with at prosthetic eye containing a wireless video camera. This sparked Spence’s interest in bionic implants and how close current technology is to reaching what once seemed like science fiction. For more information on emerging technology in retinal implants click here.

Watch as 50 AscTec UAV Hummingbird quadrocopters illuminate the night sky! The highlight of this year’s voestalpine Klangwolke in Linz, Austria, was a record breaking display of 50 synchronized UAV quadrocopters performing in the night sky. AscTec Hummingbird quadrocopters equipped with programmable LED lights delivered the mesmerizing display seen in the video. The flight pattern was choreographed by Ars Electronica Futurelab company using 3D computer generated renderings. Each Hummingbird Craft was outfitted with a radio receiver and GPS that processed flight control information and navigation from the teams server. With the rising interest in UAV’s many groups have taken interest in developing projects using drones and their creativity. One particular team plans to “augment reality” using over 5,000 drone helicopters to mimic a highway bridge in the night sky.

Contour has taken your favorite features from prior models and delivered them in the new revamped Contour+2 making it even better than before. With its low profile design and countless options the Contour+2 makes recording and streaming video in crisp High Definition effortless. Equipped with four customizable recording options you can choose to shoot at 30fps in 1080p HD, or speed it up to an amazing 120 frames per second in 848×480. The Contour+2 also comes with high quality internal audio recording ability and an external microphone jack so you can hear everything that’s going on in your peripherals. You can even take it underwater with the included waterproof case. All this paired with mobile recording and this personal camcorder can do it all! Use your Bluetooth enabled mobile device to link to your Contour+2 and transform your phone into a wireless mobile viewfinder to preview your shot, line up your camera, and change your settings to stream live! That’s not all, you can even use Contour’s Mobile Device Application to map your recording with speed, elevation, and location! Whether you’re taking the Contour+2 out on the road with you or on the next adventure it’s sure to outperform any other action camera you’ve owned! Take a look at our quick test footage below. Contour+2 120fps 480p Test Footage with our mascot Spiggy Looking to integrate the Contour+2 into your application? The RHP-HDCS 2 will allow you to customize your lens options for a variety of OEM uses. Chose from our suggested 1/2″ lenses to enhance the detail and clarity of your recording. Click here to learn more about the RHP-HDCS 2 Below we have a demonstration video of the RHP-HDCS 2 connected to a Telecentric Close-Up Lens RHP-HDCS 2 Quick Demo with Telecentric Close-Up Lens

We tested our 33X Zoom Lens from the rooftops of New York City. Check out the unbelievable detail and capabilities as we zoom in from over 2.6 Miles (13,800ft). You won’t believe the clarity and zoom of our Infrared Corrected, Day/Night OEM lenses! We used our HIR15-500M, 3 Mega Pixel, 15-500mm, Infrared Corrected, Auto-Focus, Motorized Zoom Lens to view the Empire State Building, MetLife Building, and a roof top party on the east side of Manhattan. We attached this lens to the Hitachi KP-D5010 High Resolution Day/Night camera to test the range and visibility using the various modes of the camera and this powerful lens. We also demonstrate its patented Auto-Focus feature. This lens is made using SD Glass (Special Low Dispersion Glass) to focus both the visible and infrared light onto the same focal plane (CCD Image Sensor). The SD Glass greatly reduces Chromatic Aberration, preventing muddy and “out of focus” images in “all” lighting conditions. SD Glass is a much higher quality low dispersion glass then the commonly found LD Glass (Low Dispersion Glass) used in consumer model Day/Night lenses. Features of this lens include: Optical Corrected Design Using SD Glass 3 Mega Pixel Clarity (No Spot Filter) Automatic Thermal Compensation System Motorized Selectable Filter System Auto-Focus Auto-Iris (Optional Spot Filter – F3.0-800) Presets RS-485/RS-232C Control Option

The 2012 Olympics are right around the corner, and we’re showing you what new photographic technology will be used at this summer’s games. It’s that time again, the Summer Olympics are almost here. This summer London hosts the highly anticipated games, bringing the world’s top athletes together to compete for the gold. We wanted to know what OEM, or Original Equipment Manufactured Cameras, will show up. Well we found a few, and we like what we see so far! Robotic cameras created by Reuters can go where photographers can’t during the event. As seen in the action shots above, they capture truly stunning images and movement. “I have been developing since the 2009 Athletics World Championships in Berlin a new technology, which enables Reuters sports photography to shoot pictures from unusual angles,” photographer Pawel Kopczynski says. For the 2012 Olympics, these shots will be captured via robotic cameras mounted on roofing trusses and robotic mounts. The cameras will be controlled by an operator or photographer below who can adjust the zoom and angle by using a joystick. To view the full article on Reuters Blog click here