vision

Subwoofers aren't easy. Sure, adding a decent subwoofer to a system to supply more bass is no big deal, but getting the best possible sound out of a subwoofer is. I've written a few How To Set Up A Subwoofer articles and blogs in my time, but Brent Butterworth's recent "Subwoofers: 4, 2, or 1?" feature in Sound and Vision magazine tackled one of the more difficult aspects of home theater setup: do multiple subwoofers offer any performance advantages over a single sub? Butterworth's premise was simply this: Should I spend my $1,200 … Read more

Nowadays, when a friend says her TV stinks, you assume she's talking about picture or sound quality. Some years down the road--assuming certain cross-Pacific R&D pans out--she might mean that literally.

Researchers at the University of California at San Diego are collaborating with Samsung to develop a compact odor-generating component for TVs and cell phones. The as-yet-unnamed device would give television programs and Web sites a palette of 10,000 odors.

Sure, people have been trying to add smell to visual media for a long time (Smell-O-Vision anyone?). The UC San Diego-Samsung collaboration, however, is pushing the technology closer to reality. Miniaturization and digitization are cracking the big challenges of odor-on-demand systems: control and variety.

Odor pixels are the key: a 100x100 matrix of tiny wires will make it easy to heat any one of 10,000 tiny liquid-filled containers.

It'd be cool to catch a whiff of ocean during a beach scene, or take in the heady odor of woodsmoke as a campfire flickers onscreen. But I'm thinking the smells have got to be totally natural. Otherwise, the intense pine forest experience I'm expecting might turn out to be a subliminal cue to break out household cleaning products. Maybe Samsung could offer an eco-organic version. … Read more

High-end audio shows are a great way to see and hear the very best gear. I'm getting good feedback about the goings-on at T.H.E. Show: Newport being held this weekend at the Hilton Hotel at the Orange County Airport in California.

There are oodles of outrageously priced, groovy turntables; gorgeous amplifiers; and statuesque speakers on display; and lots of great music to buy. More than 100 high-end audio companies will be demonstrating their best products in rooms throughout the hotel.

T.H.E. Show: Newport is also presenting a series of seminars on computer audio; tips on … Read more

Nvidia is making 3D more affordable for 3D Vision-ready monitors, projectors, and laptops by launching a wired version of its active-shutter 3D eyewear. Due in late June, each pair costs $99 and comes with a 10-foot USB cable for power. An optional lock lets the glasses be secured to a computer to deter theft.

An existing wireless version is separately available at $149. Nvidia 3D Vision is a proprietary 3D technology for computing devices based on Nvidia's graphics processors such as its latest GTX 560M chip. The system is compatible with high-quality 1080p 3D PC games, 3D Blu-ray movies, and 3D clips streamed online from YouTube.

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

Imagine a floating 3D map on a car's dashboard that drivers can interact with by gesturing with their hands. It might sound like a scene lifted from "Minority Report," but Pioneer has developed a new Floating Vision display to deliver a similar capability.

The system utilizes an LCD module to project sharp, 3D-like pictures through a special 3D lens. When combined with infrared sensors, Floating Vision allows users to touch and manipulate objects in real time, as illustrated in the above video clip from the Embedded Systems Expo in Tokyo.

Some applications for this technology include in-car navigation, and Pioneer will be offering this version to companies interested in integrating Floating Vision displays in their products. Another variant, which interfaces with the PC through a USB link, is already available.

(Source: Crave Asia via Akihabara News) … Read more

May is National Stroke Awareness month, and Boca Raton, Fla.-based NovaVision is using the occasion to trumpet a successful new therapy for partial vision loss due to stroke.

According to NovaVision's statistics, stroke is a primary cause of serious long-term disability and often causes partial blindness due to neurological trauma and visual field loss. For example, a stroke victim might retain general sight, but lose their peripheral vision or even the ability to see if he or she moves eyes to the left or right. Until now, according to NovaVision research, the opinion amongst most physicians stated such … Read more

If you want to know what's going on at night in your house, "Paranormal Activity"-style, now there's a affordable solution.

D-Link today introduced its Mydlink-enabled Wireless-N Day/Night Network Camera (model DCS-932L). According to the company, with a built-in CPU and Web server the DCS-932L offers a complete monitoring system for homes and small offices, at resolutions of up to 640x480 pixels.

D-Link says that the new camera is simple to install and has an intuitive Web-based interface. Consumers can integrate it into an existing network and view the streaming video from a PC, … Read more

This BMW concept starts to stretch credulity with its changing colors and other silliness. But another part of the Connected Drive platform is very real and very enticing. Brian Cooley shows us another reason why BMW tops surveys when consumers are asked about connected cars.

(CNET's full coverage of the 2011 Geneva auto show)

For the first time, a device that gives the sightless a second chance to see has been approved in Europe.

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports that the FDA may do the same here soon.

Barbara Campbell lost her sight 20 years ago from retinal disease, but now her world is a lot brighter than it used to be. That's because 2 years ago, she was one of the first patients to get an artificial retina.

"My goal was to see colors and go the Grand Canyon," Campbell said.

With the new retinal-replacement device, Barbara … Read more