Technology Changes in Photography

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Technology Changes in PhotographyMike HenderU3A Photography7 June 2013

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You can find all this material at . . .

www.hender.net/u3a

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Technology Changes in Photography

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What we’ll cover

• Helicopter view • What’s happening in the

market?

• Bluffer’s guide • Simplified framework of

understanding

• Some example technologies

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Research Source – Scientific American

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Scientific American June 1863

“A very valuable aid to artistic culture of the hand and eye is found in the ‘camera obscura.’

The object to be depicted is reflected through the lens onto the mirrors and then onto the white paper or canvas below. The artist's hand is introduced through the side opening covered by the curtain. 

The newly patented model combines desirable qualities with an elegant exterior. 

Our illustration shows a perspective view of the device and a student depicting the City Hall of New York.”

The newly patented model combines desirable qualities with an elegant exterior

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Scientific American June 1863

“A very valuable aid to artistic culture of the hand and eye is found in the ‘camera obscura.’

The object to be depicted is reflected through the lens onto the mirrors and then onto the white paper or canvas below. The artist's hand is introduced through the side opening covered by the curtain. 

The newly patented model combines desirable qualities with an elegant exterior. 

Our illustration shows a perspective view of the device and a student depicting the City Hall of New York.”

The newly patented model combines desirable qualities with an elegant exterior

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First – the big picture

What’s actually happening in the market?

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Three Megatrends

Moore’s Law

Mechanical to Solid State

Atoms to Bits

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1980

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Moore’s Law1

DEC PDP8 1968

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Mechanical to Solid State2

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Atoms to Bits• Crowdsourcing

• Kickstarter

• 3D Printing

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So how do these apply to Photography?

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Market: Compact , DSLR , Mirrorless

Why?

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Long, long ago, people danced at concertsNow they video, click, share and tweet . . .

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Taking photos has never been more popular

$1Bn

Instagram

FlickrTumblr

Sky Drive

Twitter

Google+

Facebook

$1Bn

Snapchat

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Taking photos has never been more easy

$1Bn

Instagram

FlickrTumblr

Sky Drive

Twitter

Google+

Facebook

$1Bn

Snapchat

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You know and love!

You know and don’t love!

You probably don’t know

Ideal for ‘sexting’

http://tinyurl.com/lokatcc

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1. Technologies developed in the mass market continue to feed into the more traditional camera and service area and vice versa

Facebook Flickr

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2. The best camera you have is the one you have with you

Facebook Flickr

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The 3 Megatrends in Photography

Mechanical Engineers

In the pre-digital age the precision mechanical engineer reigned supreme

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The 3 Megatrends in Photography

Mechanical Engineers

Electronic Engineers

As Digital entered the stage, Electronic Engineers became a key new resource

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The 3 Megatrends in Photography

Mechanical Engineers

Software Engineers

Electronic Engineers

But now we’re in the age of the ‘Algorithm’ and ‘App’

= Moore’s Law applies (candidate for rapid development)

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The 3 Megatrends in Photography

Mechanical Engineers

Software Engineers

Electronic Engineers

= Wide open for a Development Community and under attack by the Smartphone juggernaut

= Mature, ‘asymptotic’ technologies

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What’s the impact on camera companies?

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“Creative Destruction”

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“Creative Destruction”

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“Creative Destruction”

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Three technologies becoming widely

available2 31

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Intelligent Software and Ecosystems• WiFi • GPS• Smart photo (e.g. Nikon 1 series)• HDR • Instant Panoramas• In-camera editing Functions (exposure,

crop, etc.) • NFC (fast transfer of large image files to

smartphone)• Merging of DSLR and Mirrorless

technologies

http://youtu.be/TVTJfY9G5iQ

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Intelligent Software and Ecosystems

Microsoft Windows

AppleIOS

GoogleAndroid

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Example: The Apple Ecosystem • iTunes ‘App’ Store• Photo Stream• Sharing• Backups• Music, DVDs, etc.• Customer Support

AppleIOS

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Example: The Apple Ecosystem • iTunes ‘App’ Store• Photo Stream• Sharing• Backups• Music, DVDs, etc.• Customer Support

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Example: The Apple Ecosystem Anytime, Anywhere

Photos, Videos, Documents,Share!

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Example: The Apple Ecosystem

Ecosystem example from the Hender home

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Demo

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Intelligent Software and Ecosystems

Microsoft Windows

AppleIOS

GoogleAndroid

“I want to edit photos with my PC, then display them on my iPad, use Google Maps for location data and read my camera manual on Kindle eBooks”

“Hello! Can I join in?”

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Intelligent Software and Ecosystems

How do the traditional camera

manufacturers leverage the

dominant ecosystems?

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Example: Nikon WiFi joins the Apple Ecosystem

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Sensor directions

Nokia 41Mpx PureviewHTC One Ultrapixel

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FSI moving to BSI? 2

Potential crossover at 1.1 micron pixel size

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Google Glass

http://www.google.com/glass/start/how-it-feels/

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Three technologies becoming available in 5

to 10 years4 5 6

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Lensless cameras5

(Atoms to Bits)

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2. Shooting round corners5

(Atoms to Bits)

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Shooting round corners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JWDocXPy-iQ

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(Atoms to Bits)

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Very large sensor arrays

• DARPA and BAE Drone Programme• 1.5Bn Pixels• Whole city coverage• Multiple target tracking• Consumer technology

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(Atoms to Bits)

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In Summary