Years ago, video editing was restricted to those with high-end computers, and was a cumbersome, problem-riddled task, filled with dropped frames, out of sync audio, and other headaches. Some of us even attempted to edit video without a computer. I remember the days of trying to splice together a family video, using dubbed VCR’s. Let’s just say that those efforts didn’t turn out so well. Now, though, video editing has come to the masses. Almost any modern computer can handle video, and editing software comes preinstalled on most operating systems (or is a free download, in the case of Windows 7). In addition to the software to edit video, there are other free programs that are worth carrying in your arsenal. Here are four handy ones, which are Windows-only unless otherwise noted.
Will “Diminished Reality” Be a Tool for Censorship?
A team of researchers in Germany (from Technische Universität Ilmenau) have developed a new technology called “Diminished Reality” that allows real time removal of unwanted objects from a video. It’s an amazing piece of tech; almost seamless, even with complex textures. The offending objects are destroyed and blended into the background as if they never existed — for every frame — and it all happens in milliseconds.
The applications that Diminished Reality could be put toward are many, from personal, to corporate, to government and news media. Imagine being able to remove your ex from that family reunion video; or how about that embarrassing stain that you didn’t notice until you watched the recording back? Maybe this would be a good way to to quickly edit your film — or set up a replacement video for those pesky museum guards to watch… *ahem*
The application of Diminished Reality that immediately comes to mind, however, is censorship — specifically censorship in news footage that could be used for propaganda purposes and the like. Even “live” feeds are potential vehicles in US programming, if the software can be adapted to work with the imposed five-second delay on live broadcasts (thank you Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson). If that happens, the marketing term “Diminished Reality” will take on literal meaning. I am very intrigued to see where this tech will go in the near future.
Check out the video below to see Diminished Reality in action — then leave your thoughts in the comments: