Posted 04.15.2010 at 3:03 pm
27 Comments
Winscape Installed
Need a room with a view? Winscape let's you choose what goes by outside your windows.
Tired of waking up in the morning only to find yourself in the same lame place you woke up in yesterday (and the day before that)? Winscape is a DIY project for you: install two HD plasmas in faux window frames that display whatever scene you’d rather see out your window. Using a Wiimote, the setup even detects your position in the room and shifts the perspective screens' high-resolution video to create the illusion of looking out a real window.
The kit, which will run $2,500-$3,000 from Rational Craft, aims to transport you to wherever you want to be, be it San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park or the view from the Space Shuttle. You can even collect your own footage of your favorite places and cycle through them throughout the day. An IR-emitting necklace keeps track of your position in the room, shifting the vista on the screen to simulate the real sensation of looking out the window.
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DIY, Clay Dillow, HDTVs, nintendo wii, projects, Rational Craft, RED One, televisions, Video, WinscapeBut the technology isn’t exactly what we’d like to see; for one, the necklace is large, cumbersome and – how shall we say – less than fashionable (maybe an eye tracking camera would be more practical?). And if you want to record your own footage for a custom view, you’ll need to invest another good chunk of change in video gear: To give the system enough pixels to pan around for the perspective illusion, Winscape recommends shooting with a high-resolution RED One camera or a Cannon 5D Mark II, neither of which is cheap by any estimation.
Still, it’s probably the closest you’re going to get to having breakfast on the International Space Station.
[Winscape]
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That has to be the most awesome thing I have ever seen on Popsci!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just make the necklace smaller and I would jump on this!
I predict a Project NATAL Winscape clone from Microsoft in our future, or at the very least an open source hack.
I agree Frogger, Project natal's technology would really shine here! It's amazing what new ideas people have come up with with the wii remote.
That is very cool but blimey do those screens look digitally rendered. Can't shake the feeling I am looking at a commercial for a cellphone. Just saying.
I'd also want a better look at just what is required to have this done because those are some ridiculously thin screens for this kit to cost just three thousand dollars. Hope he is tossing in the plasmas with that and not just the modified Wiimote.
Practical no, epic yes
OMG!!! that has got to be the best touch to any home ever. It reminds me of the windows in Treasure Planet. I think it is very cool.
I also think it will become a trend as we inevitably cycle from 2D to 3D in home theaters.
whats the use of it, it's just a tv anyway
How am I the only one that thinks this is incredibly stupid? I've already got a bunch of flat screens, why would I spend thousands of dollars for 2 more TV's that will be dedicated to showing still frames? My current TV can do that, and it would be a serious downgrade. New technology is supposed to add functionality, not limit it.
Not to mention the fact that looking out a window will always be a better experience than looking at a TV screen (real life may actually surprise you). Please I really hope nobody gets rid of their windows to install this garbage and completely lose touch with reality.
The only thing thats actually cool about this product is the technology to angle the scene to the viewer, but what about when there's 2 people in the room? I guess this is marketed towards people who spend all their time by themselves in their room?
The only application for this technology really would be for portable video game consoles where only one person is supposed to be looking at the screen at one time (but then again, you're usually not changing angles much).
Fail.
I wonder if they could have a program of sexy neighbor super-models mowing the lawn naked and making out. Sure would make my crappy apartment much more homey. Never, my girlfriend wouldn't like it, especially after I get the studio audience program to watch us have sex, and press the audience reaction button.
I strip naked *applause button*
Premature ejaculation *Laugh button*
@bdhoro87 Your point was just made invalid by the post below it!
WIN
So what happens if more than one person wants to look through that window...sorry, television
Damn i want that, now if i only had the money. or maybe make an entire wall like that
I'm kind of surprised no one has made a Back to the Future joke.
Tho cool, I think the novelty probably wheres off fast. I'm tempted to imagine Avatar landscapes, but up close and in person, it's probably pretty obvious that it's an emitted light screen.
If it were cheap enough it could make a nice touch for apartment living.
What an awesome DIY! We were looking for a reason to buy more than one LCD TV :-)
Yeah, great technology alright, and a cool concept. Seems to me, however, that anyone who can afford to dedicate such pricey equipment to the sole purpose of providing a more enjoyable view, via virtual windows, can probably afford to move somewhere that offers a more attractive vista outside; you know, in the real world. Just sayin'.
Looks similar to what the company www.plasmawindow.com does with its scenic DVDs of aquariums, waterfalls, art, etc...
I THOUGHT OF THIS FIRST..SO DISAPPOINTING SOME ONE DID IT BEFORE ME...I HAD THOUGHT OF SOMETHING SO EXACTLY LIKE THAT ITS UNBELIVEABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ricovega12 and blackspike2710
Probably the funniest comments I've seen on this site lol. So true.
Kinda cool I guess, doubt I would ever use it. I would rather have real windows than something costing many thousands for fake windows...!
Was this inspired by Johnny Chung Lee and his Wii remote VR projects?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
I live in the county so why the heck would i need one of those? Its probly different if u live in a big city though.
Great idea, I live in a trailer park where were jammed into each other. I would modify it with a camera on the roof so I could look at the hills that my neighbor blocks.
This has to be one of the coolest ideas I've EVER seen! I have some pretty cool windows in my naperville il apartment. This is unreal though! Sweet Idea. Thanks for sharing!