Electronic Perception Technology (EPT) is a low-cost, single-chip imagining technology that enables electronic components to form a 3-D map of their surroundings and see what their users are doing. One of the first applications is a "virtual keyboard", a system that projects a laser keyboard onto a table and detects which keys the user is pressing by watching their hands and sensing which spots on the table their fingers are touching. Current EPT keyboards can sense up to 400 characters per minute.
By sending out pulses of light and timing how long it takes for the reflection to return to the sensor, EPT systems can determine depth. This is quite different than the way in which the human brain determines depth, but still effective. EPT systems can accurately determine brightness and distinguish objects from one another.
The applications of an effective machine vision technology are extremely broad. They include products for consumer, automotive, industrial, military, security, research, and medical industries. EPT is the difference between having products and tools that see and products that don't.
Imagine special guns with EPT sensors that recognize the gun's visual field and refuse to fire when a human being steps into the line of fire. Or elegant wheeled robots that can serve appetizers and drinks at a cocktail party without slamming into the guests or furniture. The company that owns the best EPT technology currently available has already filed dozens of patents for various applications.
In manufacturing, EPT can be used to sort products or product components, conduct quality control, and observe the assembly environment to ensure that safety standards are being met. This technology will allow for an even greater degree in automation in today's manufacturing, freeing human hands and minds for more high-level, creative pursuits. In transportation, EPT will be equipped on cars to produce automobiles that drive themselves, minimizing accidents and giving greater-than-human performance for certain driving tasks. The conceivable applications of this technology are practically limitless.
