CCA students reconsider the digital camera

Posted by core jr | 29 Sep 2009

At the Intel University Design Expo last week, several students from the California College of the Arts were showcased for their innovative work with cameras and mobile technology, exploring new ways to capture landscapes, print photos and connect with your children.

The Capture 180, by Lucas Ainsworth takes a wide angle photo and unwraps it onto a photographic hemisphere, storing the information as metadata. Users may view the photo by peering around with a digital screen, giving the impression that the camera is a window into a still moment in time. As Ainsworth says, "if it's a photo of fireworks, you can point the camera over to the left see the faces of the people sitting next to you- it's like the camera never left the place."

Matty Martin's Punch is a camera that prints photos by punching a halftone pattern into paper, offering an alternative to the digital printers or polaroids that require film or ink cartridges. "Meant to bridge the disconnection between digital photography and tangible images," Punch makes printing an easy and inexpensive process. The camera requires no ink or film, can be charged by hand and will work with any paper, from a dollar bill to a business card.

Finally, Sam Staar's project, EiO, is a child's toy that offers parents who work full time a way to monitor and connect with their young children, allowing them to experience important moments in their child's lives. By using cameras and sensing abilities coupled with an online interface, EiO
creates a new way for kids and parents to connect.