The only thing that could possibly make photography easier is if we could just blink our eye to capture an image.
That is the idea behind BLINCAM, a small camera that attaches to the temple of your eyeglasses and snaps a picture every time you wink.
Wearable cameras have been around for a few years and now they seem to be migrating closer to our eyes. The developers behind Snapchat recently unveiled plans for Snapchat Spectacles, a special set of sunglasses that houses a small camera that can be activated by tapping on the side.
BLINCAM attaches to your own glasses with a sensor that keeps an eye on your eye. The creators say it has been more than 90 percent accurate in tests and is able to discern between normal blinking and the hard wink or blink you calibrate with the camera to take still pictures.
Photo: BLINCAM
It connects to a BLINCAM app via Bluetooth for iPhones, generations 5 and up, late-gen iPod Touch and Android smartphones.
The device is currently on Indiegogo, where a $159 Early Bird purchase will save the customer about 20 percent off the expected retail price. BLINCAM will be on the crowd-funding site for another 24 days.
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The idea for BLINCAM originated with Shota Takase, a systems integrator, MBA student, and father, who wished you could capture the moments of fatherhood quickly, without having to fumble for his iPhone or interact with his child through a screen.
“Do you remember the first time you kid stood, or touched a dog?” Takase said in a written statement. “I designed this camera because you should see these things with your eyes, not the screen of a smartphone. Capturing a moment should never get in the way of living it.”
BLINCAM raised more than $220,000 in Japan and now seeks fund international manufacturing and distribution with the Indiegogo campaign.
GoPro started the point of view camera movement with a device that was small and mountable to cycling helmets and other places conventional cameras rarely went. Soon, companies made wearable hands-free cameras that could let you document life as you lived it and, of course, body cameras have been a hot topic in the news as a device that can make police, as well as arrestees who allege misconduct, more accountable.
Photo: BLINCAM
There is always a danger of infringing on someone’s privacy, especially if you take pictures in public unbeknownst to your subjects. There are ethical considerations, especially as it relates to street photography and the BlINCAM team is quick to point out that the should be used for your private moments, in full disclosure of people around you and with respect for people who wish to not be photographed.
The specs on the BLINCAM include an HD CMOS chip, eight hours of battery life (charged through a micro USB port) and a weight of 25 grams. The camera includes tools to mount on any size hinged eyeglass or sunglass temple, though it may not fit with designs that have odd-sized temples.
A hard wink or blink (if winking one eye is challenging) will take a still picture, confirmed by a shutter sound. BLINCAM may evolve to include video if it proves popular, according to the company.
If all goes according to its production schedule, BLINCAM will ship by April.
