This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/camera-digital.php
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br
Wi-TV Jenna Brister in a Technology Spotlight.
2
Feb/100
Feb/100
Jenna Brister shows off the new Panasonic ZS3 Lumix point-n-shoot digital still camera that also shoots 720p HD video with a choice of two different video codecs. For a quick review, go to the willifest website.
The Technology Behind Digital Cameras
12
Jan/100
Jan/100
Technology has revolutionized the concept of capturing live images. The earlier concept of producing permanent photograph was based on pure chemistry. In 1830, Louis Daguerre, devised the first practical way of producing permanent photographs. Today we are talking about the computerized photo imagery in the filmless picture taken by a device that is smart in electronic intelligence and in appearance - digital camera.
A digital camera takes video, still photographs, or both digitally. It records images on a light sensitive sensor. Instead of using a film, an arrangement of charged-coupled devices-light sensitive semiconductors, which stores electrical charges,-does the job. These digital sensors-composed of pixels -transform the light from the scene snapped into an analog signal which is then converted into a digital version. One electronic filtering system regulates color and other picture components. Another system reduces the picture. The image is finally sent to a temporary storage area and ultimately onto a memory card. Many compact digital cameras can record sound, video and still photographs.
The images are transferred to a computer where they can be modified, printed, attached to email, inserted in web pages, etc. The most significant advantages of a digital camera are its memory capacity and ability to screen the images taken on a tiny video monitor.
The technology of the digital camera relates to the same technology of Video Tape Recorder. The first VTR in 1951 captured images from the television by converting the information into electrical impulses (digital) and subsequently saving them onto magnetic tape. It was in 1960s when NASA had made a major breakthrough by converting analog to digital signals by means of the space probe for mapping the surface of the moon. Also digital imaging had its other uses in spy satellites.
Kodak scientists invented the first mega pixel sensor capable of recording 1.4 million pixels. In 1991, Kodak released the first digital camera system- a Nikon F-3 camera equipped with 1.3 megapixels aimed at journalists. The first digital camera for the consumers which worked with a home PC via a serial cable were the Apple Quick Take 100 camera(1994), the Kodak DC40 camera(1995), the Casio QV-11 with LCD monitor(late 1995) and Sony`s Cyber-Shot Digital Still Camera(1996).
The main features of a digital camera can be summarized as follows:
Resolution: Resolution means sharpness of a picture. The higher the number of pixels, the higher is the resolution.
Memory: The pictures are stored like a data file in a digital camera. The size of the memory determines the number of picture which can be taken, stored and downloaded in the computer.
Flash Type: Most digital cameras have a built in flash of a range around 10 -16 feet which is required to provide extra light needed to take photographs in insufficient light.
Optical Zoom: Normally two types of zoom lenses are used viz., digital and optical. The optical zoom lenses serve more purpose like adding detail and sharpness.
Compression: This process helps to reduce the file size.
Lens: The length of a lens determines how much of a scene will fit into a picture.
LCD Screen: A very interesting feature of a digital camera is the LCD screen which permits one to see what the photo will look like before and after taking photographs, leaving room to decide whether to erase or save the photo.
In the market there are several brands of digital camera which are selling successfully and the continuous improvement in Technology is leading way to introduction of more and more exciting features in the digital camera.
Polaroid Company and Their Digital Technology
30
Dec/090
Dec/090
The epoch let out Polaroid society conditions and account materials for the sake of instant reception of photos with the use of chemical processes, and has succeeded in it. The concept of Polaroid pictures became standard and did not demand further explanations. However the competition of the digital technologies in the end has compelled the company to refuse the archaic “chemistry” and to offer buyers more modern decisions.
However, the idea of “an instant photo” has not disappeared, and today Polaroid has suggested taking for these purposes the easy mobile printer PoGo, which is quite corresponding to the spirit of modern technologies. The principle of reception of images is rather original - performance contains neither ink, nor painting materials. The essence of the focus consists in the firm photographic paper ZINK, which contains layers with crystals of primary colours.
Some manufacturers among whom are Agfa, Epson and Polaroid, for increases of the target sanction apply technologies of image improvement. In Polaroid PDC-3000 for its matrix with one million elements the technology of expansion of the target image is also applied though at the disconnected function of expansion it is possible to receive only 800×600 pixels.
The nearest purpose of Polaroid Company is creation of technology of an instant press of digital photos. Soon Polaroid plans to present two platforms of a digital press; now they are designated by code names Onyx and Opal. Management of Polaroid hopes, that it will help to correct the parameters, which have worsened recently of sales and to provide the companies leading positions in a developing market of processing digital images.
Opal and Onyx technologies should raise quality and reduce the cost of an instant press of digital images. Opal tools are intended for reception of colour prints, and Onyx technology is focused on processing of monochrome and black-and-white images. Both systems provide application of a paper with a special covering and use of special thermal process. Unlike the traditional Polaroid instant photos, to the prints made by Onyx and Opal technology, it is not required even a little additional time for development.
Activation of or crystals occurs following the account of heating of a material in the printer. The company approves, that pictures received as a result do not fade in a course of a long time, are not smeared and are not afraid of casual drops of water. However, we can assume that the difference of heat is not an advantage for the pictures.
Polaroid traditionally does not indulge the users with the size of instant pictures - the photographic paper for the sake of PoGo has a size of 5 ı 7,6 cm. Press of one picture borrows about 60 seconds. The sources of images are mobile cameras, digital cameras the use of interfaces Bluetooth or USB (PictBridge).
Polaroid has declared the start of new electronic XSJ-00750M, 7 inches digital photo frame with a unique feature - increase in ability that allows users to look through and increase the photos without the use of a computer. In opinion of the company, it has allowed a zoom-digital camera frame to include functions of a slide show from 5 stages adjustable terms: from 3 till 60 seconds. This latest digital product from Polaroid also features an interchangeable frame, brightness, and ratio of 400:1 resistance and USB 2.0 connectivity, along with an integrated multi-card reader to handle wide variety of memory card formats.
To learn exactly what Digital Recording Equipment you need, visit www.digital-video-recordings.com where you’ll find everything you need to know about the digital video recordings and much more.
The technology behind the sound - Mp3 Explained
18
Dec/090
Dec/090
MP3 or MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 is an innovative digital audio encoding format which is meant for consumer audio storage and employs a type of lossy data compression algorithm. This compression helps in reducing the quantity of data required to embody the audio recording. It is that benchmark of audio compression which transfers and plays back music on digital audio players, known as MP3 players.
MP3 files are usually created using settings to the tune of 128 kbit/s which often results in 1/11th size of a CD filed produced from initial audio source. MP3 player’s recent evolution in the music format helps users to create personalized music lists and allows them to carry thousands of songs with them. Additionally it contains features like video and photo viewing, alarm and calendar functions and not to forget cell phone and even internet service. MP3 players come in two formats viz., Hard-drive-based players and Flash-based players. Hard drive based MP3 players are of high-capacity and have a capability of 20GB onwards.
While considerable players like Apple iPod Classic can hold nearly 30,000 songs and comes with a 120GB capacity. Flash based MP3 players are shockproof and comes in various storage sizes ranging from 512MB to 32GB. Like other digital music formats, MP3 also uses a binary code series containing 1s and 0s, when playing a digital file. MP3 players often employ DAC i.e. digital-to-analog converters to turn 1s and 0s into analog signals which are amplified and broadcast with the assistance of speakers and headphones.
It is the requirement of all MP3 players that a user’s PC should contain USB 1.1 or 2.0 ports this will help in loading songs quickly onto and off the players. Almost all the MP3 players come bundled with software and drivers which allow users to download the songs from a PC.
While purchasing MP3 players always stick to well-known brands like Apple iPod, Creative Zen, Microsoft Zune, SanDisk Sansa, Sony and Archos. MP3 players come in a diverse array of physical sizes; some are so tiny that they can be accommodated even in your keychain while the other large sizes will hardly fit in your hand. The smaller MP3 players suit people in their routine work or while jogging etc. Most of the MP3 players have 2” to 3.5” screens and weigh usually less than 5 ounces.
Sophie Milch currently manages purchasing and inventory control for Comnauts.com. Sophie keeps herself busy by making sure our inventory is filled with quality products, the latest and the greatest. Sophie holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and is frequent contributor to several technology blogs and magazines. When she?s not working; in typical nerd fashion you can catch Sophie twittering friends, beating down Murlocs in World of Warcraft and watching re-runs of the X-files.