Introduction

The co-opticon (a.k.a. the ShareCam) is a machine for democratic optics, allowing a network of participants to cooperatively control the viewpoint of a shared video camera.

The co-opticon combines a networked robotic video camera with a graphical user interface that allows many internet-based viewers to share simultaneous control of the camera by specifying desired viewing frames. Algorithms compute the optimal camera frame based on all requests, and position the camera accordingly. To try it, visit:

http://www.tele-actor.net/co-opticon

The co-opticon is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Intel Corporation, UC Berkeley's Interactive University Project, and UC Berkeley's Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS). It is part of a larger research effort on Collaborative Telerobotics.

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Users register online to participate by selecting a characteristic color and submitting their email address to the co-opticon server, which stores this information in our database and immediately sends back a password via email.

This figure illustrates the co-opticon's Java-based user interface, which currently runs on most Windows based PCs. Users view two windows. One (not shown) displays a live video stream as captured by the robotic camera. The second window, illustrated here, contains the user interface. The panoramic image is a fixed photo of the camera's reachable range of view. The snapshot above shows 2 active users listed in the scrollable window at the left. Each user requests a camera frame by positioning a dashed rectangle over the panoramic image. Based on these requests, the algorithm computes an optimal camera frame (shown with solid rectangle), and servos the camera accordingly to displays the resulting live video stream.

The meanings of items in the interface are,

1. A thick red frame indicates current camera position.
2. User input frames are displayed in their pre-chosen color.
3. A list of online users and their satisfaction level.
4. Local time for the camera.
5. Text input box for chatting.
6. Your satisfaction level.
7. Average satisfaction level for all users.
8. A clock shows time to next camera movement if more than one requested frames are received.
9. A 2-state button used to hide/show chatting text .

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As shown in the figure, the co-opticon is installed at the northwestern corner of Cory Hall, which is located at the north side of the Berkeley campus. The camera is facing the demolition site of Davis Hall North.

The demolition of Davis Hall North, located in the north east section of the Berkeley campus near the intersection of Hearst and LeRoy Avenues, began at the end of August to make way for a state-of-the-art replacement facility that will provide the headquarters for the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), one of the California Institutes for Science and Innovation. CITRIS was established to sponsor collaborative information technology education and research that will ultimately provide solutions to grand-challenge social and commercial problems affecting the quality of life of all Californians and others around the world. Applications of CITRIS research include improvements to energy efficiency, transportation, environmental monitoring, seismic safety, education, cultural research and health care. The new building includes flexible teaching and research facilities, a center for distance learning and a state-of-the-art nanofabrication laboratory. The new building will be located on the same site as the current Davis Hall North with two floors underground and five floors above.

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