Playstation Eye

I bought recently a Playstation 3 (probably I will write about it in a near future, because of it’s amazing Power Cell processor), then I bought too it’s camera, the PS Eye, cause it’s specs are great for multitouch, and it’s price very affordable (another cam for MT with a similar specs it’s about 300€, and not so easy to obtain).

Sony PS Eye:

• 4 audio input channels: 16 bits/channel, 48kHz, SNR 90db 
•  FOV: 56º o 75º
•  640×480 at 60 fps or 320×240 at 120 fps
•  Uncompressed video, optionally JPEG compression.

60 fps is just what we need to a smooth blob tracking, but we can reach 120 to get a real smooth tracking.

The problem with this camera is to run it on a PC. I was starting to write some drivers for windows, but finally I found that the great AlexP at NUI Group was quicker an already published the first working driver for the PS Eye (and consecuently I saved my time writting my own). The AlexP driver it’s a direct access driver, and he still have to write a wrapper to use it with touchlib. I think he will bring us the wrapper soon.

For the moment I already removed the IR filter from the cam, and I will use some exposed photographic film, or a floppy internal disk to act as a visible light filter. Then I will capture only the IR light with the camera, not the “image”, to proccess it with touchlib (but probable I will write my own libraries based on OpenCV to adapt it to may needs).

About my prototype, I already solded all the circuit and soon I will show some pics.