SGER: Hyper-Resolution Rendering and Display

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

Investigators

Abstract

In this proposal we briefly describe high-level image primitives and adaptive frameless sampling in more detail, along with our preliminary results in each. We then lay out our research plans for investigating these two strategies for change-focused imagery in the context of our primary and secondary application areas: rendering, and display. In both areas our focus is on enabling technology for hyper-resolution imagery, but we also argue that the other benefits listed above (more accurate, more portable, and more flexible) will emerge from our efforts. Our goals are ambitious but grounded: we do not propose to actually build new rendering hardware and monitors, but instead to lay the necessary intellectual groundwork. We also have active collaborations with partners in industry capable of taking these ideas to practice, including Microsoft Research, Intel, and Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs. Intellectual merit: This research will involve a fundamental rethinking of computer imagery, opening new avenues of research in well-established fields such as image processing, computer vision, robotics, computer graphics, and image display. Furthermore, the gigapixel displays enabled by our hyperresolution rendering has great potential as a tool in many other scientific fields. In human-computer interaction, many view such displays as the platform of the future, and our work will make research on this platform possible. Visualization researchers will also be able to study the obvious potential of gigapixel displays for improving understanding of complex data from a wide variety of fields. Broader impacts: Microsoft and Mitsubishi are convinced that large-scale and high resolution imagery will be an important part of the consumer technology market. We agree and are targeting interactive, printer-resolution rendering and display in the home and office. We believe such technology could transform the business and personal imaging industries. Moreover, the bandwidth improvements for such rendering might also be easily applied to mobile graphics on phones and PDAs. Our active research relationships with Microsoft, Mitsubishi and Intel will keep us grounded and ensure that our ideas have real-world impact. Our proposed research will also have direct educational impact. We plan to develop a computational photography course. We also have a strong history of educational collaborations, including outreach with museums as well as instruction with urban designers and architects. Hyper-resolution display, and the improved accuracy and scalability it promises, will benefit these efforts and enable new opportunities.