The Hindu Business Line : Want a different view?

DID you count the number of billboards you saw before you reached office this morning? How many of them were so catchy that they diverted your attention from the road?If you were a pillion rider or a passenger in a public transport system, such catchy slogans and images could be just something to relieve the monotony of a long ride.But, if you were the wheel, manoeuvring through busy lanes during peak hour traffice, such hoardings can be a costly distraction.As it is, riding on Indian roads is tough. Such distractions then can spell disaster. Is there no escape from such `visual spam?'

Try our technology, says SeeFree.

SeeFree has rolled out its `Visual Spam Blocking System', which uses technology to filter out `visual spam.' SeeFree spectacles provide users with the ability to see the world as it would look — without billboards, signs and other commercial visual spam, thus allowing the user to focus only on the objects that he wants to see.

The spectacles, resembling cool sunglasses, are fitted with an electronic binocular see-through device.

Its `brain' is a sophisticated microprocessor system that processes all visual information in your sight, in real time. This `image recognition system' can distinguish billboards, advertisements and the like from other visual elements.

Two tiny cameras, built into the glass frame, provide the microprocessor with hi-resolution video feed that ensures a high level of image recognition.

After the system has recognised the `unwanted' elements, it creates a `floating mask' according to their shapes to be overlapped to the actual view.

In order to make the masked elements less contrasting and distracting, the system calculates the colour and brightness of the mask as an average to the surrounding areas.

In order to place the masks over the actual view, a retinal projection technique is being used. The eye's retina serves as a projection screen.

Only the floating mask is projected into the eye; the rest of the view is seen `as is', and not through the camera-processor-projector system.

The Visual Spam Blocking System allows the user to experience `augmented reality', which is in allowing the user to experience his/her view of the real world.

Using SeeFree software, the user slowly begins to recognise traffic signs, street names, number signs etc. These graphical elements will then not be masked by the system. It runs on battery power to provide mobility for the user and can be worn all day.

The system currently works with Windows, MacOS and Linux operating systems.

The glasses come with a charger, USB cable and a software bundle.

lnr@thehindu.co.in

Picture by S. Mahinsha

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