Faster Gigapixel Photographic Syste

A diverse group of scientists and artists recently gathered to begin creating a gigapixel (one billion pixels) photographic system that can capture data much faster and offer a much greater display.

This first Big Picture Summit was organized by artist-photography Clifford Ross and held in December 2004. It as cohosted by Sandia [U.S.] National Laboratories and the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University Tisch School of the Arts (NYU, NY, USA).

Computational researchers at Sandia, a National Nuclear Security Administration lab, believe a display system of the scale planned by Mr. Ross will augment the ability of its scientists to visualize and gain insight from hugely complicated data sets that can be understood only through human intuition, ranging from supercomputer-generated physics simulations to high-resolution satellite imagery. The project could have a major impact on all industries that rely on specific imaging, including space exploration, telecommunications, homeland security, and environmental science.

Mr. Ross previously developed and patented a camera system called R1 that broke through the gigapixel barrier. With this camera, Mr. Ross has achieved some of the highest resolution single-shot images ever made. The new project has two components. The first is to enlarge on the concepts personified in the R1 system and build a new camera that can capture a gigapixel of digital data at a speed of 1/15th of a second or even faster.

The second component is to design a new display system, which Mr. Ross says will be similar to an "electronic Sistine ceiling.” It will have 16 times greater data display capabilities than the one now in use at Sandia, which is among the world's most advanced. The display would provide an overall view of images on a massive scale while allowing viewers to distinguish very fine detail.

The summit is anticipated to result in a strong agenda and working group, which then would be funded by interested foundations, corporations, individuals, and government agencies. "Individually, the participants are some of the keenest minds in the field,” noted Red Burns, creator and chair of the Interactive Telecommunications programs at Tisch. "Collectively, with an unyielding artist in our midst and the right support, there is a chance to create a real breakthrough.”





Related Links:
Sandia National Laboratories
Clifford Ross