Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Video-In and Magnetometers Could Introduce Interesting iPhone App Possibilites

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,027
40,067


The discovery that Apple's next iPhone might contain both video input as well as a magnetometer (digital compass) opens up some interesting possibilities for future iPhone applications.

Over at TouchArcade, game researcher Blair MacIntyre demonstrated an example of an Augmented Reality application that was in testing on the iPhone. Augmented Reality is described as a combination of real-world and computer-generated data, where computer graphics objects are blended into video footage in real time.

The example shown demonstrated the realtime overlaying graphics on top of video on the iPhone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0bitKDKdg0

A more sophisticated example of a Zombie shooter was also shown using non-iPhone hardware. Due to SDK video restrictions, these apps would not be allowed in the App Store at this time, but both of these would be possible on the new iPhone if the rumors hold true.

The inclusion of a magnetometer (Digital Compass) will also introduce a number of new possibilities. Unlike accelerometers, a 3-axis magnetometer can determine absolute position. A Nokia blog post details what this could mean:
A traditional compass only works when it is held horizontally. As Paul Coulton recently described in his Forum Nokia Blogs posting, the Nokia 6210 includes a 3-axis magnetometer. Through some calculations, it is possible to find out the absolute direction in which the phone is facing, no matter how the phone is oriented.
Click to expand...
Examples of how this could be used include pointing your iPhone's camera at a building and the phone telling you what building it is by combining GPS, accelerometer and compass information. The iPhone could even overlay graphics and text on top of the image to provide additional information. Another possible application described is the ability to show information about stars and constellations simply pointing your iPhone towards the sky.

These sensors could also make this mockup/concept application a reality as well:

http://vimeo.com/1496857

Such an application is not possible with the current iPhone's accelerometers alone.

Article Link: Video-In and Magnetometers Could Introduce Interesting iPhone App Possibilites
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/08/video-in-and-magnetometers-could-introduce-interesting-iphone-app-possibilites/
Welcome to the future.

It's exciting to think all that's in store in technology for us.
 
Two words...

Unbelievably Amazing!!

again....

Unbelievably Amazing!!

The iPhone truly is living beyond what many of us could've imagined 2 years ago.
 
I'm in love with this phone already.
2 more months, 2 more months...!

Can you imagine a new generation of first person shooter games: like paintballing or laser skirmish but in ANY environment you wanted to. Or going for runs every afternoon but racing a ghost of yourself from previous runs. Doing renovations of your house and being able to walk through an architect's 3d model. Surgeons being able to view a patient's CAT scans from any angle while in the middle of an operation.

Augmented reality... here we come.
 
I really like this idea. I just hope someone makes an add on for those of us that can't upgrade this time around.
 
MikeELL said:
I'm in love with this phone already.
2 more months, 2 more months...!

Can you imagine a new generation of first person shooter games: like paintballing or laser skirmish but in ANY environment you wanted to. Or going for runs every afternoon but racing a ghost of yourself from previous runs. Doing renovations of your house and being able to walk through an architect's 3d model. Surgeons being able to view a patient's CAT scans from any angle while in the middle of an operation.

Augmented reality... here we come.
Click to expand...

Seriously man, become a programmer.

It is rather cool though, in that second vid the cat looked like it was popping out the screen :p
 
Would the compass work with the current 3Gs? I mean, is the required hardware already in the phone?
 
If this actually becomes reality in the new iPhone, I'm officially old.

When you are so mind blown by technology like that, is when you know you're no longer a member of the current generation.
 
winks360 said:
How did these guys make these if the new iPhone is yet to be released :confused:
Click to expand...

1st one is on an iPhone but Apple doesn't allow Video in officially, so it's a hack.

2nd one is a mockup.

arn
 
Google is already well on their way in creating 3D maps of major city centers. All that is required now is an efficient framework to stream 3D data to your phone.

Imagine another couple of years when people can wear special goggles with magnetometers built-in that can overlay 3D information onto the real world you're viewing through your goggles. Imagine also being able to project this information onto your car windshield. The possibilities are really endless. This could be a whole new paradigm of combining the internet's vast data with the physical world.

Not too far off really. All that's required is an iPhone Goggle™ and a really fast network connection to constantly fetch 3D overlay data.
 
dongmin said:
Imagine another couple of years when people can wear special goggles with magnetometers built-in that can overlay 3D information onto the real world you're viewing through your goggles.
Click to expand...
Even wearing earphones can be dangerous along roads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back