PanaCast camera module (via Aurangzeb Khan)
The days in which you can make faces at your boss during a conference call may be nearing an end. A new device, called the PanaCast made by Altia Systems, is offering HD video with a 200-degree field of view, which may make it difficult to hide during a video conference call. However, the expanded field of view also means that it is great for capturing an entire room of people and creates a much more immersive experience than the traditional webcam that is commonly used.
After a very successful Kickstarter, the PanaCast is now ready to be sold for $599, which is much cheaper than comparable video conference call hubs and telepresence systems. The hub is in the shape of a disk and has six fixed focus cameras located around its perimeter. Custom multi-imaging video processing software combines the footage from all the cameras in real-time to deliver one panoramic 2700 x 540 pixel view.
The PanaCast only requires 350 kb of bandwidth and through that, it can deliver 60 fps on a fast internet connection. The device will also function using mobile 3G but at a slower fps rate (4G is in the works). No matter what the connections is, it offers enterprise encryption and a stream that can be accessed via mobile phone and soon, via PC.
To link your smartphone to a specific PanaCast, all you have to do is download the free PanaCast app and take a picture of the QR code atop the unit or, if your phone is NFC enabled, a simple tap will link the two devices. Each remote viewer can swipe to change their own POV and pinch to zoom in and switch between feeds on the app.
The company plans to offer integrated audio through the client app so the remote viewer can talk and hear through their phone, but as of now, it seems the PanaCast only delivers video and audio must be shared in parallel through a “Plain Old Telephone System.”
The camera is compatible with Skype, Google Hangout and other enterprise apps. Up to two remote viewers can join in a conference call for free. However, if you wish to have more viewers or use the PanaCast cloud service, a $19/month fee applies.
There is no way to record the video stream but this option is being reviewed. An open source SDK will be available in the future but the video stream could be viewed using the open source VLC program using the device’s RTSP URL.
PanaCast on stand. We all see you now.. (via Aurangzeb Khan)
Right now, the app is only available for iOS. But, since this app is written in Ubuntu, the team promises apps for Android, OSX and Windows XP and higher will be available in the near future. At the heart of the device is a SoC including dual ARM11 cores. The PanaCast also comes with an Ethernet port, and a USB 2.0 port. It achieves seamless streams using a high-speed, ultra-low latency H.264 codec by Cavium Networks. The PanaCast fits on the palm of your hand so it is very portable (but it does not use batteries!). The 5.5’’ diameter device comes with a 15’’ stand to assure the entire field of view is utilized. The is no escaping the camera now…
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