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PS3 Eye Hacked into Decent Windows-Compatible Webcam
Posted by Kit Eaton at 8:26 PM on October 1, 2008
A bunch of programmer/hackers have come up with a driver solution that'll get your PS3 Eye off its lazy arse and functioning as a webcam for your PC. Why's this interesting? Because it's relatively cheap, and actually pretty high-spec'd: it can deliver VGA video at 60fps over USB2, which makes for neat webcam action. It's also got pretty wide viewing angle and low distortion, meaning it's perfect for multitouch applications—which the group's also working on. Much better than having the thing lying in a drawer unused after you last played an Eye-compatible game six months ago. [NUIGroup via Hackaday]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
michaelleung
Posted 8:55 PM 1/10/08
Yeah, it's way better a use than what I'm using it for right now- giving middle fingers in Burnout Paradise when I beat the other players in multiplayer.
michaelleung
tylerstyle
Posted 9:22 PM 1/10/08
Yup. It still is just a tech toy without any gaming use, up until now. Only for the chat functionality, built into the PS3 it's useful.
tylerstyle
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 10:14 PM 1/10/08
Hrmmm, been looking for another good/cheap cam for my website. I'm off to eBay. This could be my bedroom cam.....
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
citykids
Posted 11:13 PM 1/10/08
Hmmm, sounded interesting, until I read that it doesn't work with any applications - yet. Here's hoping that they'll continue to crack this thing open!
citykids
shorty6049
Posted 11:12 PM 1/10/08
@strider_mt2k:
yeah.. thats about how it is. I saw a tech demo of what they COULD do with it, (but not whats actually available right now) and bought one. I'm just hoping for headtracking VR type stuff one day...
shorty6049
strider_mt2k
Posted 10:59 PM 1/10/08
At first I wondered what the big deal was, since webcams are cheap and plentiful.
Then I realized, the people who bought this at Sony's price are probably needing to feel like there's some more value in the thing.
strider_mt2k
dragonphyre
Posted 11:18 PM 1/10/08
The headline is wrong. It actually doesn't work as a webcam--YET. The author is working on that.
FTFA: "NOTE: This currently does NOT work in any windows applications other than the test application. Please be patient as this is still under development."
This is just a tech demo to show that it is technically possible to get video from the webcam on Windows.
Please update the article/headline.
dragonphyre
misterburglund
Posted 11:57 PM 1/10/08
The Playstation Eye is way better than listening to some 12 year-old jerk being told to "get off the damn PS3" by his mother through your bluetooth headset a centimeter away from you year. Being able to talk freely and without the worry of battery drain or whatnot is priceless. And the original Eye Toy for PS2 makes a good webcam as well. And it's a Logitech driver! Simple!
misterburglund
Accordion
Posted 12:27 AM 2/10/08
Little Big Planet revives the EYE very well.
Custom texturing your levels and character is great
Accordion
JustEaton
Posted 12:14 AM 2/10/08
I've been using my PS Eye as a webcam with my Mac Mini for a while now, I would've thought Windows had an alternative driver. Anyways, it's a decent camera, and it works.
JustEaton
Enochrewt
Posted 1:16 AM 2/10/08
@Accordion: The levels that are made completely from genital textures will change your mind...
Enochrewt
Mr.SithNinja
Posted 1:51 AM 2/10/08
@Enochrewt: eeewwww.....
Mr.SithNinja
JEmlay
Posted 3:38 AM 2/10/08
No mic support = fail
This would be 100X more useful if it used (really used) the mic array built into the camera.
JEmlay
JEmlay
Posted 4:31 AM 2/10/08
@Enochrewt:
They will also be removed. So no one will see them.
JEmlay
ViperBorg
Posted 6:57 AM 2/10/08
@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->: Woah, Woah, Woah... Woah...... Woah......... Woah....... I don't wanna know.
ViperBorg