EyeTap

EyeTap (also known as Generation-5 Camera) is a wearable computer vision system that functions as both a camera and a display. It augments, mediates, or otherwise alters the wearer's perception of reality by intercepting, processing, and recreating the visual world.

Unlike traditional cameras that merely record, or augmented reality systems that overlay computer-generated graphics, EyeTap actively transforms the light entering the eye. This transformation can involve various image processing techniques, potentially altering the spatial, temporal, or spectral characteristics of the visual input.

The core principle behind EyeTap is to allow the wearer to "see" in ways not normally possible. This can involve filtering out unwanted light, highlighting specific features in the environment, or even synthesizing entirely new visual information. The processed imagery is then presented to the wearer in real-time, effectively replacing their natural vision with a computationally mediated view.

EyeTap devices typically consist of a camera, a processor, and a display mechanism. The camera captures the incoming light, the processor performs the desired image transformations, and the display presents the modified imagery to the eye. This system is often integrated into eyewear, hence the association with wearable computing.

The applications of EyeTap technology are diverse, spanning areas such as enhanced vision for the visually impaired, industrial applications where workers need to see information overlaid onto their work environment, and artistic expression through computationally altered realities. The technology blurs the lines between observer and observed, as the wearer's perception becomes an active process of computational mediation.