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audvidguy
can't wait to get my hands on units to evaluate, i saw this at CEDIA 2010 in ...
menoindian
'reports of OEM's currently reviewing'? who are these OEM's? Interesting ...
DarbeeVision aims to be Dolby of video
R. Colin Johnson
7/14/2010 12:37 AM EDT
PORTLAND, Ore.—Dolby took the very best available audio and made it better, but nothing like it has existed for video. Now DarbeeVision Inc. hopes to do for video what Dolby did for audio—enhance the details while suppressing the noise. And like the first Dolby devices for audio, the first DarbeeVision equipped devices—due out by Christmas—will be equipped with a on/off button, so you can prove to yourself how well it improves picture quality.
"This is a little like Dolby in the early days," said DarbeeVision’s CEO, Paul Darbee. "When Dolby first came out for audio, it had an on/off button which you could push to find out what it was you were buying. DarbeeVision is like that too—we have to show you the 'before' before you can appreciate the 'after'."
So far no one shown the demonstration has chosen "before," because the difference is like hitting the windshield wipers during rain—suddenly you can see details and depth that were only vague shapes of indeterminate distance before. Look carefully at the image illustrating this story to observe "visual presence" added by DarbeeVision (akin to the "audible presence" added by Dolby). Or visit the DarbeeVision Gallary, where you can click to toggle the effect on and off--causing the 3-D details to "pop" and making the "before" image appear flat (2-D) and out-of-focus.
How's it work?
DarbeeVision (Anaheim, Calif.) developed its video enhancing algorithm by taking the depth information from duel stereo cameras—one for each eye—and encoding it into a single image that can be viewed or printed using any display of printer, but which nevertheless triggers the perception detail and depth in the viewer. DarbeeVision-enhanced devices will include TV sets, set-top-boxes, video game consoles, mobile devices, digital picture frames and "smart" HDMI cables with "DarbeeVision inside," so you can retrofit your current HDTV. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can choose from an IP block for their own ASIC, a Darbee-manufactured FPGA, or as firmware for a graphics processing unit.
Darbee originally discovered the technique back in early 1970s, but he got sidetracked in the 1980s when he invented the universal remote control,for which he is still collecting royalties after half a billion units sold. But the new company has even higher market penetration hopes it the DarbeeVision algorithm.
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R_Colin_Johnson
7/14/2010 10:55 AM EDT
Darbee is trying to become the Dolby-of-Video, and like Dolby, the effect is subtle, but compelling (as if a Photoshop expert hand-tweaked each image). Later this year Darbee will start announcing its design wins--mostly mainstream consumer video electronics wanting to improve their image, but to me the interesting part will be when 3D goes mainstream. Darbee spent most of the the last decade perfecting his 2D-to-3D converter, so that he could defocus and subtract the 3D from the 2D and thus enhance its "depth" without having to wear glasses. Now that 3D video cameras are starting to be used, it should be a natural extension to use Darbee Vision to convert those 3D videos into Darbee-enhanced 2D videos that can be displayed on normal TVs. Its not true 3D (Darbee calls it 2-1/2-D) but its twice as bright (those glasses cut down light by 50 percent) and the stunning images should at least out-shine the current 2D versions of 3D movies which just show you half the information (just the left or right alone). Check out the images in the Darbee Vision Gallery and tell me if they look as good to you as they do to me?
http://www.darbeevision.com/gallery
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Frank Eory
7/14/2010 5:33 PM EDT
The ability of Darbee to do this with a mono image and in real time is quite impressive. For many people, 2.5D without special glasses may be preferable to true 3D that requires glasses.
I look forward to seeing which products incorporate Darbee technology this holiday season.
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R_Colin_Johnson
7/15/2010 5:28 PM EDT
I have been a 3D photographer for many years, and the way we always overcame the worst problem in 3D (dimming of images when wearing the glasses) was to use two projectors--thus putting twice as much light on the wall (which polarized glasses then divert to the correct eye). 3DTV, unfortunately, has to half the light coming in LCD shutters that split the light between the two eyes--a real disadvantage. DarbeeVision, on the other hand, makes images appear to be even brighter than normal--as if a haze has been removed. Its not true 3D--and I love 3D in its place--but when watching on regular LCD monitors some viewers indeed might find DarbeeVision preferable.
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Mark Wehrmeister
7/15/2010 3:27 AM EDT
This is an exciting technology just like Dolby was in the early days. The use of an on/off button is also a great idea. How many of us would have ever known the impact of the Dolby technology without the ability to switch it on and off?
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R_Colin_Johnson
7/15/2010 5:36 PM EDT
Regarding on-off buttons, why did they ever get rid of them in the first place? Anybody know?
I think they should not only put the button back on, but should add a slider to vary the intensity of the effect. In fact, Darbee reports that some of the OEMs currently reviewing its technology are considering adding dials to vary the amount of "depth" you want to add.
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menoindian
8/30/2010 9:42 PM EDT
'reports of OEM's currently reviewing'? who are these OEM's? Interesting enhancements on their site but there is no 'meat' to anything I read, and the patents filed don't seem to match up with the first datasheet released? I would love to play with one of the TV Boxes and test it out. Any release dates, spec's, etc? Knobs? Really? Don't be silly!
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audvidguy
12/14/2010 7:17 PM EST
can't wait to get my hands on units to evaluate, i saw this at CEDIA 2010 in Atlanta in private demo and it was very impressive, much more so then any other depth perception enhancement that doesn't require glass, this company will be a success the product prototype could only be described as "impressive"
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