Re: What is APS?

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Gregory J. Wageman comments on camera speculation:
> ... The problem today is not lack of
>"processing power".  There are single-chip microcontrollers that are
>more powerful than the early PCs, which can easily be embedded in
>a camera....
......
>In order to make a digital imager with the resolution of film emulsion,
>you need to get the cell size down to near the size of film grain, which
>is the size of a large molecule.
....
>Of course, having said that, I am reminded of a wise man's words:
>
>"When a distinguished and well-respected scientist tells you that something
>is possible, he almost certainly right.  But when the same distinguished
>and well-respected scientist tells you that something is impossible, he is
>almost certainly wrong." :-)
>...................................

*****************  I love the quote placed after listing many of the
problems with digital imaging. It sums up one of the continuing biggest
problems with technology. Despite the statement's proven reliability over
and over again, distinguished scientists repeatedly state what is
impossible. Worse than making the statement of impossibility is that people
in general rush to believe the statement. 

>Then  Michael Kersenbrock comments:
>Those microcontrollers don't even touch the coat-tails of the throw-away
>packaging of the new/next generation high-end DSP chips *now*.
......
> One *can* buy adequate digital cameras now
>at high prices 
......
>I firmly believe that ten/fifteen years from now that digital cameras of
adequately
>good quality will be widely available and of reasonable price.
>
>I'm not too sure of the DSP based stereo one... that'll depend on the
marketplace.
>Maybe the Leica version will be that way.  But it could be done then.

*************************  I agree with Michael's information. Basically the
technology exists now for the most way-out stereo camera you could dream up.
It will just take a little time to put it together. Once it is functional,
it's cost will start to drop to usable levels. The ideal is a digital camera
that can output either digital files or print to film. The processing chips
would fix most image distortions automatically, or according to custom specs
applied as selectable options and synthesize fine resolution where it is
needed. Perhaps larger CCD's are needed or maybe just more of them displaced
over a wider area.

NASA's new *PixelSats* (see Popular Mechanics, Sept. '96) will scatter small
imaging devices all over space and computer power will assemble the data
into actual images. The same could be done with handheld stereo digital
cameras, providing very high resolution 3D without the distortions of fixed
optics.

I draw the line at technology that will do my viewing for me.  ......  : -)

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/


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