Abstract:

We consider a system that allows multiple networked users to share control over a robotic webcamera. Each user guides the camera pan, tilt and zoom, by drawing a rectangle in the user interface. The server adjusts the camera to best satisfy the user requests, by solving a geometric optimization problem that requires fitting one rectangle to many. We present an exact algorithm that improves upon previous results, as well as a simple near-linear time approximation algorithm for this problem. We also describe a robust and efficient solution using graphics hardware. Joint work with Sariel Har-Peled, Dezhen Song and Ken Goldberg.