I’m not often amazed by technology, but every once in a while, I see something that truly amazes me.
More than thirty years ago, as a photography student, I attended at lecture called “Critics Criteria.” A.D. Coleman was on the panel, as was one of my teachers at the University of California Extension, Joan Murray.
One of criterion that they discussed was how a photograph “extended my own vision.” Those photographs made you see in a different way. I remember Greg Heisler‘s photographs did that for me. The Photosynth Technology Preview also does that.
If you think that Microsoft is evil and just a gigantic, slow moving entity (and even if you don’t), you should take a look at Microsoft Live Labs’ Photosynth Technology Preview. Unfortunately, you need Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista and a hefty video card to try it on your own computer, but if you meet the system requirements, it’s worth looking at.
If you’re using a Macintrash or you just want to watch a video of this technology, this is a YouTube video of the demo at the TED (“TED – Technology, Entertainment, Design, an invitation-only event where the world’s leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration ” – a hoity-toity* moniker if I ever heard one) by Microsoft Live Labs Architect, Blaise Aguera y Arcas.)
*my friend James Drake