World's first full HDR video system sees like the human eye

 

Researchers have developed the world's first full High Dynamic Range video system, which allows for videos that are exposed in a fashion similar to that of the human visual perception system (Photo: goHDR) 

 

Warwick's HDR camera being tried out in an operating room (Image: University of Warwick)

 Warwick's HDR camera being tried out in an operating room (Image: University of Warwick) 

Anyone who regularly uses a video camera will know that the devices do not see the world the way we do. The human visual system can perceive a scene that contains both bright highlights and dark shadows, yet is able to process that information in such a way that it can simultaneously expose for both lighting extremes – up to a point, at least. Video cameras, however, have just one f-stop to work with at any one time, and so must make compromises. Now, however, researchers from the UK’s University of Warwick claim to have the solution to such problems, in the form of the world’s first full High Dynamic Range (HDR) video system.
HDR has been in development for some time – Sunnybrook Technologies unveiled a High Dynamic Range display system back in 2004, and just last year BenQ joined a list of several manufacturers to have released HDR still cameras. Even HDR video has been shot before, albeit on a limited, experimental basis. What the researchers at Warwick claim to have developed is the world’s first full-motion HDR video system, that covers everything from image capture through to display.

It could also find use in feature film-making, as the researchers state that it could be used to create 3D images that don’t require viewers to wear special glasses......