In this paper, we develop a high-frame-rate (HFR) vision system that can estimate the optical flow in real time at 1000 f/s for 1024×1024 pixel images via the hardware implementation of an improved optical flow detection algorithm on a high-speed vision platform. Based on the Lucas-Kanade method, we adopt an improved gradient-based algorithm that can adaptively select a pseudo-variable frame rate according to the amplitude of the estimated optical flow to accurately detect the optical flow for objects moving at high and low speeds in the same image. The performance of our developed HFR optical flow system was verified through experimental results for high-speed movements such as a top's spinnning motion and a human's pitching motion.

In the recent years, intensive studies have been carried out on the measurement of distance by using stereo camera systems. However, image systems with multiple image sensors are usually very complex and are inconvenient to use. In this paper, we present a new method that is based on the fact that the viewpoint depends on the position of aperture. We show images from different viewpoints can be obtained by using a monocular system. In the proposed method, stereo image analysis is carried out by using a viewpoint switching iris. A prototype of the viewpoint switching iris has be developed, which can be used along with a monocular camera for distance measurement. Furthermore, we have verified that this system can be used to a moving object by using a compensation method.

In this paper, we introduce a high-speed vision platform, H3(Hiroshima hyper human) vision, which can simultaneously process a 1024 × 1024 pixel image at 1000 fps and a 256 × 256 pixel image at 10000 fps by implementing image processing algorithms as hardware logic on a dedicated FPGA board. Various types of algorithms are actually implemented to show that H3Vision can work a high-speed image processing engine. Experimental results are shown for multi-target color tracking, feature point tracking, optical flow detection, and pattern recognition by using high-order local auto-correlation (HLAC) feature at a frame rate of 1000 fps or more.

A 1,000-jps camera-projector system in which projected patterns are adoptively controlled according to image processing results is described. Adaptive structured light projection enables fast and efficient 3-D information acquisition. The prototype system is applied to the tracking of the nearest point of an object, and experimental results show that the system successfully tracked an apex of a fast-moving large! object.

In this paper, we propose a finger-tapping interface called FINGERTAP, which can estimate the contact states and forces on human fingertips in real time by using only the fingertip positions measured by high-speed vision cameras. In particular, we focus on the high-frequency component that develops at the moment a fingertip contacts something. We introduce a real-time estimation algorithm for the fingertip contact state and force by using frequency filtering to detect the high-frequency movement component of the fingertip positions. We also introduce a clickable pointing interface and a virtual musical instrument as a demonstration of an application using the FINGERTAP system.

In this paper, we propose a new vision chip architecture specialized for target tracking and recognition, and describe a prototype vision chip. Both higher order correlation features and moment features extraction algorithms are implemented in the proposed architecture in order to achieve highspeed image processing and enhanced pixel integration.

In the recent information age, we have a big world, so called, "the Intemet" or "the cyber space", which has become an important medium for international communication year by year. In order to improve students' communication ability, the authors have been teaching intercultural communication and systematizing its method by using e-mail and web pages on the Internet. In the class, our students communicate with foreign students by using haiku (traditional Japanese short poems) and haiga (Chinese ink paintings). Students increase their ability to express their intentions and feelings through short poems and computer graphics. In this paper, the authors discuss the method and the effect of the intercultural communication training with haiku and haiga through the Internet.