Dreameye
Encyclopedia
The Dreameye is a digital camera
released for the Dreamcast home video console by Sega
. It was designed to be used as a webcam
and a digital still camera, and there were plans for games to involve the Dreameye. The Dreameye was only released in Japan, and Dreameye functionality was absent in non-Japanese versions of the games it could be used with. It came with the Divers 2000 Dreamcast, but was also sold separately. The DreamEye can be seen as the first use of a digital camera on a video games console, though not outside Japan.
in 2000 although it was in development since 1998 and in conceptual stages long before that.
. Upon transferring the pictures off of the card they resized to a resolution
of 320px by 240px.
The Dreameye concept was created as the Dreamcast's answer to webcams at the time.
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
released for the Dreamcast home video console by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. It was designed to be used as a webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
and a digital still camera, and there were plans for games to involve the Dreameye. The Dreameye was only released in Japan, and Dreameye functionality was absent in non-Japanese versions of the games it could be used with. It came with the Divers 2000 Dreamcast, but was also sold separately. The DreamEye can be seen as the first use of a digital camera on a video games console, though not outside Japan.
History
The DreamEye was originally unveiled by SEGASega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
in 2000 although it was in development since 1998 and in conceptual stages long before that.
Features
The Dreameye came with a microphone headset, a stand, batteries, software, a cable to connect the Dreameye to the Dreamcast and a Dreameye microphone plug card. The Dreameye takes pictures at approximately 0.3 megapixels (640×480 pixels), but in order to send them via e-mail the pictures in question had to be first saved to a Dreamcast memory cardVMU
The VMU, or Visual Memory Unit is a memory card peripheral for the Dreamcast. Its official name was changed by Sega for each of the three key regions:-* Japan = Visual Memory System * North America = Visual Memory Unit...
. Upon transferring the pictures off of the card they resized to a resolution
Optical resolution
Optical resolution describes the ability of an imaging system to resolve detail in the object that is being imaged.An imaging system may have many individual components including a lens and recording and display components...
of 320px by 240px.
The Dreameye concept was created as the Dreamcast's answer to webcams at the time.
Technical specifications
- Image Device: 1/3 Inch CMOS Image Sensor
- Pixels: 310,000
- Lens: Fixed Focus Type, F2.0
- Focus Distance: 0.5 to Infinity
- White Balance: Auto
- Exposure Time: 1/10sec (can change when used with DC)
- Resolution: 640X480 (320X240, 160X120 also available when used with DC)
- Color Composition: YUV 4:2:0 (4:2:2 available when used with DC)
- Compression for Still Pics: JPEG (Conforms to JFIF)
- Picture Storage Medium: Flash Ram
- Picture Storage Limit: 31 images
- Picture Deletion: Batch Deletion (when attached to DC, can delete individual images)
- Compression when sending: Only when connected to DC, can send uncompressed or compressed.
- Data transfer to DC: 4Mbps or less
- Power Supply: 2 AAA batteries used with included battery case (when connected to DC, power is pulled directly from the DC system)
- Auto Power Off: 20 seconds
- Battery Longevity: Can take 300 pictures continuously
- Size:
- Main body (W=58mm, H=80mm, D=19mm)
- Battery Box (W=35mm, H=80mm, D=19mm)
- Weight:
- Main body = 62 grams,
- Battery Box = 28 grams
- Included Items:
- Battery Box
- Connection Cables
- Microphone Unit
- Microphone Stand
- Software, Manual
External links
- Pictures of Dreameye
- Article on Dreameye from IGN.com
- Website with info and pictures of Dreameye games and Dreameye's unveiling at the Tokyo Game Show (in Japanese)
- Game Boy CameraGame Boy CameraThe Game Boy Camera, released as in Japan, is an official Nintendo accessory for the handheld Game Boy gaming console and was released in 1998. It is also compatible with the Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Light, Game Boy Color, Super Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy Advance SP...