MakingView Brings 360-Degree Video Full-Circle With The Mountable ViewCam Camera

MakingView1

Welcome to the future of 360-degree video.

MakingView, a company out of Norway, has created a camera called the ViewCam, an ultra lightweight camera that can be mounted almost anywhere and take full 360-degree video.

Unlike the Dot or GoPro, however, consumers can’t purchase the ViewCam, as it’s only available as proprietary technology, licensed out to companies like RedBull. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t cool, or that we won’t see it (or something like it) on consumer shelves in the coming years.

The potential uses for this technology are bountiful. Just imagine taking a tour of the Egyptian pyramids or the Grand Canyon from the comfort of your computer. Tour Guides for major attractions could strap one of these things on without even noticing it’s there and go about their daily business.

The ViewCam is remote-controlled, with a 2.4GHz processor, has 160 to 224GB of internal memory and takes 4K x 2K equirectangular video at 25 – 50 fps.

Viewers can pan around with their keyboard or mouse to see the sky, backwards, forwards, left and right, and even look down at whatever the camera is mounted on.

In the case below, that would be a RedBull biker flying down a hill.

Since the ViewCam only weighs around 600 grams, it can be mounted on a helmet without affecting the biker, driver, runner, spelunker or what have you.

If your company is interested in licensing the technology, you must contact Making View for a quote.

Chances are it costs a pretty penny, as only RedBull goes to such extremes for marketing.

Click to view slideshow.


Art Thompson, Red Bull Stratos’ technical project director, talks circuit breakers, wind shear and biomedical data

Art Thompson, Red Bull Stratos' Technical Project Director, talks circuit breakers, wind shear and biomedical data

While Felix Baumgartner landed safely on the ground just a matter of hours ago, the internet is still resonating with the sound of tweets, status updates and YouTube clicks, all thanks to what was one of the most spectacular human endeavors in recent history. The mission was simple, to send a man up in a balloon higher than ever before, and have him safely jump to the ground. This kind of “simple” is usually anything but — if you just look past the well-manicured exterior. Which, as luck would have it is exactly what we did.

With the cheers of success still ringing in his ears, we got some quality time with Art Thompson, the technical project director, and Baumgartner’s earliest collaborator on the Stratos mission. We wanted to know a little bit more about what went on behind the scenes, and Thompson was more than happy to oblige. They’re understandably proud of what they just achieved.

Continue reading Art Thompson, Red Bull Stratos’ technical project director, talks circuit breakers, wind shear and biomedical data

Filed under: ,

Art Thompson, Red Bull Stratos’ technical project director, talks circuit breakers, wind shear and biomedical data originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Felix Baumgarter breaks YouTube record as 8 million viewers watch his space jump (video)

Felix Baumgarter breaks YouTube record as 8 million viewers watch his space jump

Felix Baumgartner might not have broken Joe Kittinger’s world record for the longest time spent in freefall, but he did smash a fourth milestone during his dive. In addition to records for the highest ever jump, longest distance fall and fastest downward speed, the stunt was watched by eight million YouTubers at the same time. While the site hasn’t divulged exact stats, that figure is apparently higher than those who watched President Obama’s inauguration. That said, if you weren’t one of the eight million, you can head on past the break to watch the highlights reel — unless you’re already bored of watching a man fall, unaided, you know, from space.

Continue reading Felix Baumgarter breaks YouTube record as 8 million viewers watch his space jump (video)

Filed under: , ,

Felix Baumgarter breaks YouTube record as 8 million viewers watch his space jump (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Yahoo News  |  sourceYouTube  | Email this | Comments

What Would It Take For You To Go Sky-Diving From the Stratosphere? [Chatroom]

Surely by now you’ve heard someone say “Man, with balls that big, I’m surprised Felix Baumgartner even fit into that capsule.” You can’t deny it, he’d need some serious balls jumping from the stratosphere is just as insane and frightening as it is awesome. More »

Leap of faith: Felix Baumgartner’s historic jump from the edge of space

Leap of faith Felix Baumgartner's historic jump from the edge of space

BASE jumping might just be about to enter the mainstream. What has typically been considered a fringe activity, reserved for thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies, could soon be firmly cemented in the public view. For the uninitiated, BASE jumping is like skydiving, without the plane. Participants throw themselves off bridges, antennae, buildings, cliffs, and well, whatever high object they can find. It’s not illegal, “in theory”, but as many of the chosen launch spots are public or private property — or pose a risk to public safety — gaining access to, or jumping from them, can mean stepping over the legal line.

This otherwise obstreperous activity has largely kept to itself, occasionally popping up in magazines, or YouTube videos, but — all going well — on Monday that changes. Serial boundary pusher (of wing suit across the English Channel fame) Felix Baumgartner is set to leap, in the most literal sense of the word, from relative obscurity into the history books. How? By jumping to earth from the edge of space, likely breaking the sound barrier as he does so. How does one go from humble Austrian beginnings to a capsule 120,000 feet (about 23 miles) above the Earth’s surface? Make a comparatively tiny leap past the break to find out.

Continue reading Leap of faith: Felix Baumgartner’s historic jump from the edge of space

Filed under: ,

Leap of faith: Felix Baumgartner’s historic jump from the edge of space originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRed Bull Stratos  | Email this | Comments