PlayStation Eye

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The PlayStation Eye
Specifications[1]
Platform: PlayStation 3
Interface: USB 2.0
Connector: USB Type-A plug
Resolution: 640×480 pixels @ 60 Hz, 320x240 pixels @ 120 Hz
Predecessor: EyeToy

The PlayStation Eye (trademarked PLAYSTATION Eye) is a webcam device by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 video game console. It is the successor to the EyeToy for the PlayStation 2.

The peripheral was launched in a bundle with The Eye of Judgment in the United States on October 23, 2007,[2] in Japan and Australia on October 25, 2007[3][4] and in Europe on October 26, 2007.[5][6]

The PlayStation Eye was also released as a stand-alone product in United States,[7] Europe,[5] and Australia.[8] EyeToy designer Richard Marks stated that the EyeToy was used as a model for the rough cost design.[9]

Contents

[edit] Features

[edit] Camera

The PlayStation Eye is capable of capturing standard video with frame rates of 60 hertz at a 640x480 pixel resolution, and 120 hertz at 320x240 pixels,[1] which is "four times the resolution" and "two times the frame-rate" of the EyeToy, according to Sony.[10]

The PlayStation Eye also has "two times the sensitivity" of the EyeToy,[10] with Sony collaborating with sensor chip partner OmniVision Technologies on a sensor chip design using larger sensor pixels, allowing for more effective low-light operation.[9] Sony states that the PlayStation Eye can produce "reasonable quality video" under the illumination provided by a television set.[10]

The camera features a two-setting adjustable fixed focus zoom lens. Selected manually by rotating the lens barrel, the PlayStation Eye can be set to a 56-degree field of view similar to that of the EyeToy,[10] for close-up framing in chat applications, or a 75-degree field of view for long shot framing in interactive physical gaming applications.[1]

The PlayStation Eye is capable of outputting video to the console uncompressed,[1] with "no compression artifacts"[10]; or with optional JPEG compression.[1]

[edit] Microphone

The PlayStation Eye features a built-in four-capsule[1] microphone array, with which the PlayStation 3 can employ[10] technologies for multi-directional voice location tracking, echo cancellation, and background noise suppression. This allows the peripheral to be used for speech recognition and audio chat in noisy environments without the use of a headset.[1] The PlayStation Eye microphone array operates with each channel processing 16-bit samples at a sampling rate of 48 kilohertz, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 90 decibels.[1]

[edit] Applications

Like its predecessor, the EyeToy, the PlayStation Eye enables natural user interface and mixed reality video game applications through the use of computer vision (CV) and gesture recognition technologies implemented in the software. Though initial PlayStation Eye software has mostly been based on the same general techniques as the EyeToy (e.g. simple edge detection and color tracking, Digimask face mapping),[fn 1] since the announcement of the camera-based PlayStation motion controller and Project Natal control systems at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo,[11][12] Sony has been promoting a number of other technologies available for the PlayStation Eye,[13] such as advanced facial recognition and analysis, and CV-based head tracking.[12] According to Sony; the facial technology can identify features such as eyes, mouth, eyebrows, nose, and eyeglasses; read the shape of the mouth and detect a smile;[13][fn 2] determine the position and orientation of the subject's head; and estimate the age and gender of the face.[11]

In addition to gaming-oriented uses, Sony has stated that the PlayStation Eye will also feature applications for tasks such as interactive communication and content creation (e.g. movie-making and video blogging). An AV Chat feature allows for audio-visual chat with anyone on a user's PlayStation Network friends list (up to six at once[14]). Additional free content and activities are planned for release via the PlayStation Network.[7]

[edit] EyeCreate

The PlayStation Eye features free EyeCreate video editing software,[5] which enables users to capture pictures,[7] video, and audio clips directly to the memory unit of the PlayStation 3 console. EyeCreate features a variety of different capturing modes, including stop motion[15] and time-lapse.[1] Through the software, users can edit, save, and share their own custom images, movies, and audio content.[7]

Video and audio files produced on the PlayStation 3 with the PlayStation Eye are written in a proprietary format which is currently user-accessible only through EyeCreate.[10] When questioned about support for other formats, Marks stated in April 2007 that "future formats are still being discussed."[9] In the release version of EyeCreate, videos created using the program can be exported as MPEG-4 files for use outside PlayStation 3 consoles.

[edit] Motion controller

Main article: PlayStation Motion Controller

On June 2, 2009, Sony revealed an engineering prototype for a motion-sensing controller for the PlayStation 3.[16] Consisting of a wand unit, the controller uses the PlayStation Eye to track its position in three dimensions through a special illuminated orb at the end. In development by Sony, the controller is targeted for release in Autumn 2010.[17]

[edit] Compatible games

The following are some PlayStation 3 games with camera functionality, some of which may not be specifically developed for the PlayStation Eye. The PlayStation Eye does not support EyeToy compatible PlayStation 2 games.

2010

2009

2008

2007

[edit] PC drivers

While there is no official support or drivers by Sony to run the PlayStation Eye on other platforms such as personal computers, there are community-supported drivers available for Windows,[fn 3] Mac OS,[fn 4] and Linux.[fn 5]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ One notable exception is The Eye of Judgment, which uses CyberCode visual tagging.
  2. ^ See facial expression capture.
  3. ^ A working driver for Windows XP and Vista can be downloaded from http://alexpopovich.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/sony-ps3eye-camera-directshow-capture-source-filter/
  4. ^ A working driver for MacOS can be downloaded from http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/
  5. ^ There is support for the camera in Linux kernel 2.6.29.[26] Drivers for earlier kernels can be downloaded from http://kaswy.free.fr/?q=node/38#ps3.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "PLAYSTATIONEye Brings Next-Generation Communication to PLAYSTATION3". us.playstation.com. Sony Computer Entertainment America. April 26, 2007. http://www.us.playstation.com/News/PressReleases/396. Retrieved 2007-04-28. 
  2. ^ a b Valledor, Mark (September 20, 2007). "5 Things You *Don’t* Know: THE EYE OF JUDGMENT". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/09/20/5-things-you-dont-know-the-eye-of-judgment/. Retrieved 2007-08-25. 
  3. ^ "The Eye of Judgment（アイ・オブ・ジャッジメント） Biolith Rebellion ～機神の叛乱～" (Adobe Flash). jp.playstation.com. Sony Computer Entertainment. http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/eoj/. Retrieved 2007-08-25. 
  4. ^ "Eye of Judgment". au.playstation.com. Sony Computer Entertainment. http://au.playstation.com/games_media/games/ps3/e/eyejudgment.jhtml. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
  5. ^ a b c d "PlayStation Eye to launch on November 7". Sony Computer Entertainment. http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/16-10-2007-6690.html. Retrieved 2007-10-26. 
  6. ^ "PlayStation Eye Street Date". SPOnG. SPOnG. October 16, 2007. http://news.spong.com/article/14038. Retrieved 2007-10-18. 
  7. ^ a b c d Stocker, Sarah (October 10, 2007). "PlayStation Eye, A Little More Info…". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/10/10/playstation-eye-a-little-more-info/. Retrieved 2007-10-11. 
  8. ^ "PLAYSTATION Eye". au.playstation.com. Sony Computer Entertainment. http://au.playstation.com/ps3/hw/playstation3eye.jhtml. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
  9. ^ a b c Croal, N'Gai (April 30, 2007). "Geek Out: The Playstation Eye is Nearly Upon Us. Dr. Richard Marks Takes Us Behind the Scenes of its Birth.". N'Gai Croal's Level Up. Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2007-05-01. http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2007/04/30/geek-out-the-playstation-eye-is-nearly-upon-us-dr-richard-marks-takes-us-behind-the-scenes-of-its-birth.aspx. Retrieved 2007-05-01. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i "PlayStation Eye - Q+A". Three Speech. ThreeSpeech.com. April 26, 2007. http://threespeech.com/blog/?p=394. Retrieved 2007-04-30. 
  11. ^ a b French, Michael (16 July 2009). "Sony developing PSEye facial recognition software". Develop. Intent Media. http://www.develop-online.net/news/32417/Sony-developing-PSEye-facial-recognition-software. Retrieved 17 July 2009. "Some of the advantages boasted by Microsoft's Natal controller are already in the PSEye, Sony said today." 
  12. ^ a b McWhertor, Michael (2009-06-19). "Sony Spills More PS3 Motion Controller Details To Devs". Kotaku. Gawker Media. http://kotaku.com/5297265/sony-spills-more-ps3-motion-controller-details-to-devs. Retrieved 2009-07-17. "Sony boasts that the 'face-tracking and head-tracking capability already in the PS3 SDK' will offer developers 'powerful tools for new types of user interaction.'" 
  13. ^ a b Kumar, Mathew (16 July 2009). "Develop 2009: SCEE’s Hirani Reveals PS Eye Facial Recognition, Motion Controller Details". Gamasutra. Think Services. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24456. Retrieved 17 July 2009. "We have a wealth of libraries available, and the chances are you won’t have to develop any technology yourself." 
  14. ^ "PLAYSTATIONEye". PlayStation.com. Sony Computer Entertainment America. http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Accessories/SCPH-98047. Retrieved 2007-10-26. 
  15. ^ Lutton, Greg (October 11, 2007). "EyeCreate in Action" (Flash Video). PlayStation.Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment America. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/10/11/eyecreate-in-action/. Retrieved 2007-10-13. 
  16. ^ "Sony Computer Entertainment America announces an unparalleled software line up, launch of the PSP go system, and new services for PSP (PlayStation Portable) and PlayStation Network at E3 2009". Sony Computer Entertainment. 2009-06-02. http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/090603c_e.html. Retrieved 2009-06-03. 
  17. ^ "Motion Controller for PlayStation 3 to become available worldwide in fall 2010". Sony Computer Entertainment. 20 January 2010. http://scei.co.jp/corporate/release/100120e.html. "Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it will release its new Motion Controller (tentative name) for PlayStation 3 (PS3) computer entertainment system in fall 2010 in Japan, Asian regions and countries, North America and Europe/PAL territories together with an extensive line-up of exciting software titles." 
  18. ^ "EA Revs Up Burnout Paradise With Innovation and Style" (PDF). Electronic Arts. September 21, 2007. pp. 2. http://www.info.ea.com/news/pr/pr1007.pdf#page=2. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
  19. ^ Features | Rainbow Six Vegas 2 | Ubisoft
  20. ^ PlayStation Global
  21. ^ "Playstation Store Update (Playstation Blog)". http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/01/17/playstation-store-update-18/. Retrieved 2008-01-25. 
  22. ^ a b "The future of PLAYSTATION Network revealed". uk.playstation.com. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. August 24, 2007. http://uk.playstation.com/ps3/news/articles/detail/store2/item76393/. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
  23. ^ "Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 08". info.ea.com. Electronic Arts. http://www.info.ea.com/products/title.php?id=821. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
  24. ^ Mason, Kevin (July 16, 2007). "Your SingStar Questions Answered!". SingStar developer blog. IGN. http://blogs.ign.com/Sony_SingStar/2007/07/16/60444/. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
  25. ^ Facial import
  26. ^ Chehab, Mauro Carvalho (2008-12-29). "V4L/DVB (9712): gspca:Subdriver ov534 added.". The Linux Kernel Archives. Linux Kernel Organization. http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=fbb4c6d20f29f2b10daad31cc6238d91f93d70d4. Retrieved 17 July 2009. 

[edit] External links

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