PanoTools:
RE: VR Crime Scenes
lists 2006-Jun-27 01:39:55
About 4 or 5 years ago, the company I was with were developing a software
product called 'SOCIS' (Scene Of Crime Imaging System) which incorporated
spherical imaging and normal photography in a visually-driven database. The
interface was designed for any user to be able to access, search and
incorporate most types of data related to a crime scene and be able to link
that data to locations in a series of spherical images. We used a Spheron
camera on the end of a very long lead to prevent contaminating the crime
scene.
In one field test, our local constabulary invited me to attend an incident
involving a suspicious death, to subject the equipment to a practical test.
Once set up, the SOCO (Scene Of Crime Officer) in a white paper bunny-suit,
carried the plastic-wrapped tripod and camera into the premises and set it a
few feet from the rather odorous body. I was then able to operate all
functions of the camera remotely. As this was a test, we only shot the one
location at that time, but after the body was removed and the smell
diminished, we returned and shot panoramas of the remainder of the premises.
All these panoramas, and the Police's own videos and photographs, were
combined together into SOCIS and demonstrated to the local Police force and
various other organisations.
It was at this time that I took my leave of this particular company (I can't
stand short-sighted, greedy investors!) and less than a year later the
company folded without ever having completed the product - but someone we
showed it to must have liked it, for a very similar 'return-to-scene'
product appeared from an different company just a hundred miles away.
I still have the demo on a disk somewhere, but every time I look at it I'm
reminded of that awful smell.
:-)
Neil
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