This strange looking device is a 360º panormaic ball camera, developed by the Computer Graphics Group. Inside the green, plastic-armored ball are 36 cameras of the variety used in cellphones. Using integrated sensors, the ball detects when it has reached the apex of its flight and snaps a photos simultaneously from each camera. Once uploaded onto a computer, the ball’s custom software stitches the images together into a movable, explorable panorama giving a view that’s certainly like no other.
Admittedly, the actual utility of the device is probable pretty low as it experiences some of the same distortion seen in Google street view images. However, it provides a unique perspective, and certainly packs a lot of potential in this humble sphere. See a video of the ballcam in action, after the break.
(via Geek.com)
