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Sharp busts out world's first 3D HD camera for mobile devices

By Vladislav Savov posted May 12th 2010 at 2:41AM

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Oh yeah, things just got real. Sharp has announced an industry first today, with its 720p-recordin' 3D camera module. Intended for mobile devices like smartphones and point-and-shoot digicams, this miniature wonder will be sampling in July and hitting mass production before the end of the year. Not much else is known about it at this point -- we can guess it'll cost a pretty penny when it debuts -- but Sharp has penned an effusive press release, which you may explore just past the break.

I'm more interested in seeing it used for the PS4, augmented reality in 3D seems like a bit of a waste on a handheld. Unless they need it for control input, but we already know from the Move that you don't need a 3D camera for accurate 3D input with a camera.

That is what I am interested in.

But what would a 3D camera bring that a regular camera wouldn't? I only see augmented reality in 3D as the actual differentiator here.

And if the 3DS uses the layered 3D for its screen tech, will the footage from this camera even be compatible for showing? Regular 3D footage isn't compatible with these types of screens to my knowledge, so augmented reality in 3D might not even be possible.

The camera is intended for mobile devices, which would fall into the 3DS realm rather than the Wii 2.

"intended for mobile devices" easily translates into "small and adaptable", which would be a good starting point for a camera peripheral for any console.

If it can suck in 3D, producing the 3D on screens would be easier, no?

How they make it work is for them to figure out.

There is just a fundamental difference between the two. The camera records two different pictures which are displayed in turn to provide the 3D effect, where as the screen shows parts of the same picture in different layers to provide the 3D effect. There is a pretty massive difference in structure between the two.

So anything with 3D in name coming from sharp is now almost certain part of new DS ?

There's very little benefit in such thing for console but probably it would increase power consuption for whole machine.

@OP:
That thing looks like a shrunk "Johnny 5" head! CREEPY!!!