MIT Research Amplifies Invisible Detail In Video 114
An anonymous reader writes "MIT researchers have invented an algorithm which is able to amplify motion in video that is invisible to the naked eye — such as the motion of blood pulsing through a person's face, or the breathing of an infant. The algorithm — which was invented almost by accident — could find applications in safety, medicine, surveillance, and other areas. 'The system is somewhat akin to the equalizer in a stereo sound system, which boosts some frequencies and cuts others, except that the pertinent frequency is the frequency of color changes in a sequence of video frames, not the frequency of an audio signal. The prototype of the software allows the user to specify the frequency range of interest and the degree of amplification. The software works in real time and displays both the original video and the altered version of the video, with changes magnified.'"
Useful for creepy movies? (Score:3, Interesting)
Wish youtube wasn't blocked at work.
Although, if this looks like what I think it looks like, I could see this having a lot of potential in the movie industry as well. Specifically enhancing things otherwise unnoticed could make for some very creepy footage.
Worst Case (Score:4, Interesting)
to long-range-surveillance systems that magnify subtle motions, to contactless lie detection based on pulse rate.
This is the first thing they're going to do with it.
All the other applications might come afterwards.
2005 (Score:2, Interesting)
Anyone else notice the Motion Magnification page was last edited September 12th 2005?
Re:Cool for Interviewers, Card Players (Score:4, Interesting)
I, for one, would love to see a poker tournament where all of this stuff was legal. It would have to take place on a separate circuit, but currently the top strategies are 'don't act emotional and wear dark sunglasses'. This would take things to the next level, so you might as well throw in real-time simulation outputs, probabilities, heart-rate monitors, histograms, etc, all available to each player in real time. Put a thin layer of lead paint on the backing of each card and you're good to go.