Thursday | 8 January, 2009
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Use a web cam, mirror and PC as a product selector

Tom Russell 22/12/2005 12:10:05


This Tutorial describes a system which can be used at home and in shops to retain several views of an object or person, so that comparisons can be made between them on a computer screen.

The idea spawned from my frustration when trying on new spectacle frames as I could not see what they really looked like. It led me to realise that a computer would be the ideal solution for this problem. Not only could a computer store accumulated images from different angles, but it could also allow users to compare images.

So I decided to create such a system using the Linux shell, the Runtime Revolution IDE, a web camera, and some picture grabbing and saving software. I have called it the "magic mirror" for reasons that will become obvious as you read this article.

Patent Pending

As the inventor of this system I state that any patents arising from the description and methods described in this article are to be assigned by any and all developers to the Patent Commons held at the Open Source Development Laboratories for the common good.

This is a summary of the patent description for the systems described in this article. A combination of the following mechanisms assembled in such a fashion as to achieve picture grabbing, viewing and printing for the purpose of selecting a wearable product.

  • Any camera device that can supply a digitally downloadable picture within approximately 10 seconds of a remote button press.
  • Any mirror or screen that can adequately display a suitable reflection of the user or users.
  • Software and electronic display system that can display a viewable selection of downloaded pictures from the camera device and associated control procedures that can display and mirror a single large picture of one of the selection and enable the any or all of the displayed pictures to be printed, saved or transferred by electronic means to facilitate viewing by third parties.
  • Software that can print, save and electronically transfer any or all of the displayed pictures.


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