If open-source really is the future of all things digital, then Apple is in a world of hurt. And with so many things going open-source these days – browsers, office suite applications, smartphones – it does seem that way. Even cameras can go down that direction, if Stanford scientists manage to make their “Frankencamera” commercially available soon.
The Frankencamera is being developed as a camera that’s run by a software platform that users can develop their own software programs for. That means Frankencamera users won’t be held down by the software that comes bundled with their cameras.
An open-source camera poses a lot of great opportunities. The Stanford scientists have suggested the possibility of using high-definition still photos to make low-definition videos clearer and more vibrant – almost instantly. It’ll also be possible to program shutter speeds, auto-focusing algorithms – the possibilities are endless.
When open-source cameras make mainstream, it could also let users download and buy applications made by third-party programmers, much the same way Apple’s App Store works for the iPhone and iPod series. But what the scientists at Stanford need to do to make this a reality is to make the Frankencamera affordable – and much smaller.
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