(PhysOrg.com) -- If I told you about something called the Predator system, what would come to mind? The first thing that comes to this reporter's mind is The Predator that was made famous in the film of the same name. So, you can how distress is a natural reaction when you hear that someone is developing one right here on earth.
Well, sci-fi style, nightmare scenarios about the end of the world aside, the Predator system is quite real, but instead of being the ultimate killing machine, it is a visually based tracking system that might help the disabled to use computers more effectively.
The developer of the Predator system is a student at the University of Surrey Zdenek Kalal, who studies at the university’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing. He was given an award, the Technology Everywhere award, for developing the Predator system. The event was hosted by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
The Predator system is designed for enhanced tracking and could potentially allow a paralyzed person to use an item, such as a pen placed in a mouth, in order to operate the mouse on a computer. This technique would provide a method of communicating with the world for a traditionally isolated group.
What makes this system unique is the fact that this system has the capability to learn over time, and track a user more effectively. Once and item is designated, and multiple items can be designated, one at a time, the system is able to track the item as it moves about, and even if it leaves the screen and returns.
In addition to helping the disabled the system has the potential to be used in a range of biometric security options.
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wealthychef
not rated yet Apr 01, 2011mikedraghici
not rated yet Apr 01, 2011Jotaf
5 / 5 (2) Apr 01, 2011But this application sees new techniques being proposed every year by the thousands, and of course they all work on their datasets. It's just that this guy bothered to actually make a cool video and explain it to the layman! I guess we all need to start making better presentation videos for our research.
For example, search Youtube for "super mario head tracking", the first hit is one of my friends doing just that.