Microsoft could launch a Mars mission with NASA

[Nomad559]

Mars mission with NASA

Cambridge researchers have used stellar leaps in the understanding of human perception to develop technology which has the potential to revolutionise the visual media.

A team from Microsoft Research in Cambridge has created a software package which fools the human brain into processing 2D images – on movie screens, TV screens, computer screens in magazines or newspapers, or even photo albums – in three dimensions.

The machine vision group, led by Andrew Blake, has used 21st century software engineering to recreate the effect used in 3D films as early as the 1950’s without the need for preposterous and impractical red-green, cardboard 3D glasses.

Antonio Criminisi of the research group believes that the commercial applications for the artificial stereo vision technology are virtually limitless – for example making a photograph leap from the page of a magazine in an entirely new way or dramatically increasing the feeling of nostalgia when looking at holiday snaps.

He said: “There are, of course, exciting applications such as 3D television or movies, but one of the early applications we are looking at is the concept of virtual tourism.

“3D reconstruction allows us to effectively create 3D models from 2D images, which is particularly appealing in the case of holiday photographs.

“People will be able to interact with photographs taken on the beach or at a monument or tourist attraction, allowing them to re-experience experiences.”

MSR Cambridge recently uploaded the first publicly available demo of the technology onto its website, using images beamed back by NASA’s Mars Lander. NASA had itself published the images as ‘anaglyphs’, designed for viewing in 3D with red-green glasses, and therefore ideal subject matter to prove the effectiveness of the technology.

The team is not yet officially working with NASA but Criminisi said that the team planned to contact the space agency in the near future to discuss the scope for collaboration, particularly with respect to the Mars mission.

Criminisi explained the background to the development of artificial stereo vision: “This technology is grounded in MSR’s research into machine or computer vision, which is a branch of artificial intelligence.

“It’s important for us to understand how the human brain understands depths and distances and enables us to grasp objects for example. It will help us to advance computers’ abilities in motion detection and object recognition, for example.

“This particular technology replicates what the human brain does when it ‘fuses’ two different images from our two eyes. We don’t get two different images from our two eyes – the brain takes the images and creates one organic image, complete with a sense of depths, distances and perspective.

“All the technology requires is two slightly displaced images of the same object and it will trick the brain into thinking that it is looking at a 3D model.”

Criminisi said the model for commercialisation of artificial stereo vision had not yet been decided but the team had established a close relationship with product groups in Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, travelling to the US to “show off” the invention.

He said the technology still required a little honing before it was ready for commercialisation and he remained undecided as to whether he would take part in the commercialisation process or stick to what he knew best – research.

An online demo of the technology can be found here