In the present paper, we present a study focusing on the improvement of the operation of finger pointers, which are promising with respect to their potential for use as pointing devices in home environments. We developed a basic finger pointer and aimed at solving the following problems related to finger pointers: (1) instability and (2) time lag. For this purpose, the concept of prediction based on gray theory was applied to the finger pointer, and the relevant requirements were examined. The effectiveness of the proposed method was assessed through subjective evaluation, and the results indicated that all of the evaluated items were characterized by increased stability brought by the proposed technique. Using the proposed finger pointer together with the gray theory, we constructed a three-dimensional information presentation program whose operability was evaluated by using it as an electronic photo album, and the superiority of the proposed system was confirmed.

This paper investigates a 3D reconstruction of the building by detecting the vanishing points from the interlaced video sequence. It is theoretically possible to reconstruct a 3D model of the building from a single picture. However, the accuracy of reconstruction is not enough with a single picture because of the deterioration of the picture, such as noise or dim etc. Increasing the number of pictures, accuracy of the reconstructed model will become higher. It is also possible to apply this method to video sequences. There are deteriorations caused by interlace scanning in addition to noise in each video image. Our preliminary results show that from information of the many pictures, this method can reconstruct precise 3D structure. The addition average values that are obtained from the 50 pictures or more have been settled within 2% of the actual value.

With the onset of interactive digital data broadcasting, a user-friendly pointing device for controlling home use displays such as digital HDTVs is desirable. A linger pointer that does not use any artificial devices in the hand is a suitable candidate. This paper describes the basic design and usability of the finger pointer. To obtain a degree of freedom in the operation, we propose a finger pointer used in the crooked elbow position. In the experiments, we detect the position of the fingertip with a stereo camera and examine whether there is a datum point on the body that has sufficient accuracy for our purpose. Then, the psychological plane where the display is mapped by the finger is measured. The performance of the finger pointer is evaluated in accordance with IS09241-9. Moreover, we examine the subjective evaluation test and a comparison test using the mouse. The experimental results show the finger pointer to be a promising device for domestic use.

We equate multi-viewpoint image acquisition with object sampling from different viewpoints, and calculate the resolution of multi-viewpoint camera systems. Aliasing, which occurs with the sampling, leads to depth shifting of objects. For instance, an image of a distant object may be taken as if it were near when aliasing occurs. A condition of the camera pitch free from aliasing is discussed. An appropriate prefilter for the sampling can eliminate alias-causing spatial-frequency components, even when the camera pitch is large. We analyze the characteristics of the prefilters from the aspects of depth shifting, ghosting, and waveform distortion. The experimental results show that a prefilter, which reduces ghosting, can be realized optically. For precise acquisition of multi-viewpoint images, however, a prefilter with electrical processing is needed.

This paper focuses on the scanning methods of a field-sequential stereoscopic display system. We examined the advantages and disadvantages of several scanning methods to identify the most suitable one for the field-sequential stereoscopic display technique. An evaluation test using a system with 525 scanning lines and a 120-Hz field frequency was conducted. The results show that the picture quality of the 4:2 or 4:1 interlace method, which maintains high vertical resolution, is superior to that of the simple 2:1 interlace one. We also developed an experimental field-sequential stereoscopic system for HDTV with 1:2 interlacing and confirmed that it is possible to display high-quality stereoscopic HDTV pictures in full 1125-line vertical resolutions.

In this paper, we examine the cardboard effect by varying such image acquisition parameters as lighting intercamera distances, lens focal length, and presence or absence of motion parallax and backgrounds in program production. Subjective evaluation tests show that binocular disparity calculated from camera-separation lens selection and convergence point are dominant factors. The cardboard effect can be effectively avoided or lessened by enhancing increasing the binocular parallax. In case of actual program production, it is practical to use standard lenses or ones close in focal length to standard lenses, and to set camera separation around the same as the average eye separation of human eyes in order to mitigate the cardboard effect. When binocular disparity is small using lenses with long focal length, other cues, such as motion parallax accompanied by the relative movement between subjects and cameras, are effective.

Television that conveys real-time information has become an indispensable part of our lives. Its technology has advanced from the days of black-and-white sets to color models and to high-definition television (HDTV). HDTV has been contrived to provide the audience with greater immediate appeal such as sensation of reality and power than the current TV system does and its worldwide applications are expected to continue to grow. Real world information which we obtain with our eyes is three-dimensional. It is reasonable therefore, that we humans want an imaging system that produces pictures that are as natural and real as things we see and experience every day. Three-dimensional television (3DTV) is a very promising approach expected to satisfy such wishes. As television technology matures and HDTV produces pictures as clear as movies, 3DTV is now capable of providing real-time stereoscopic pictures with high resolution. This paper outlines the studies that have been carried out about 3DTV as a post-HDTV system. The themes of the paper are focused to such topics as human factors in relation to binocular parallax, camera and display systems, and bandwidth reduction technology.>