Canon Reimagines The Future Of Work With AMLOS (Activate My Line Of Sight)

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More people working from home and Canon wants to make their experience better with AMLOS.

Canon press release:

Canon Reimagines The Future Of Work – Introduces New Single, Simple And Seamless Gesture-Intuitive Hybrid Work Solution, AMLOS (Activate My Line Of Sight)

Being Designed to Work with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Azure, Canon is looking to elevate the future of remote work experience by designing an interactive video software

MELVILLE, NY, January 4, 2022 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today introduces an amazing collaborative work tool that is in development, AMLOS (Activate My Line of Sight)1 a hybrid meeting software solution that can harness the power of Canon’s image processing technology that is being designed to help create an immersive hybrid work experience.

The development of the AMLOS solution stemmed from the challenges faced over the past two years with remote working. Several months into the pandemic, teams at Canon USA began to personally feel some challenges of remote work, like the majority of those in the American office culture. While the convenience factor of working from home benefited people in many ways, after a few months, many Canon USA employees found some hurdles to conducting productive meetings with high engagement over video.

To keep colleagues connected on a deeper level, the solution of AMLOS (Activate My Line of Sight) was born, with the goal of being single, simple and seamless while creating inclusion among members of a hybrid team, uniting them on a virtual and emotional level. The software uses a single camera enabling multiple lines of sight, is simple to operate through intuitive gesture control (for in office members), and provides seamless connectivity with others through Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Azure.2

“We have come to know remote working well over the past two years, and we recognize that hybrid teams need a great way to collaborate. With AMLOS and the use of a single camera, we’re aiming to alleviate the pain points that come with group interaction and are pleased to be working with Microsoft on this endeavor,” said Kazuto “Kevin” Ogawa, president and CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Experiences like serendipitous interactions, which were lost with remote working, can be restored by the AMLOS solution. A person in an office can launch a meeting with AMLOS using a hand gesture and then send invites to remote colleagues to join them.

Further, instead of remote participants struggling to participate in group conference room meetings virtually, they will be able to drag and drop on their device screen to zoom in on areas that the in room participant focuses on, like text on whiteboards, presenters in the room, and objects on a table, giving them control over what they want to interact with during a meeting. In-office participants can use hand gestures to identify what they want to share with remote users.

The AMLOS software is compatible with Canon’s CR-N300 and CR-N500 PTZ cameras3, which produce incredible 4K and HD image quality, with image-processing power and speed that enables 4K UHD video acquisition, image stabilization and precise Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus. These features can clearly capture detailed visuals, such as writing on a whiteboard.

By utilizing both digital and optical zoom capabilities, the camera can keep the presenter in the room in-focus and onscreen, while the software reacts to gestures given by participants in the room. The software and camera can target an area designated by the in-office user and capture snap shots, bringing a specific point of reference into focus.

The software works with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Azure. Businesses who already use Teams to instant message, video conference and store files, and those who use Azure for cloud services, will have the opportunity to increase productivity by taking advantage of the AMLOS solution’s intuitive, collaborative software.

Canon U.S.A. is currently scheduled to make the AMLOS software available in the first half of 2022. For additional information, please visit usa.canon.com.

Canon Announces Kokomo, Social VR Platform For An Immersive Experience

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Canon announced the development of Kokomo, a virtual reality (VR) platform for an “immersive virtual reality experience“. To use Kokomo you need a Canon camera, a VR headset, and a smartphone. The recently announced Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye lens will be used for an “ImmersiveCall” demonstration at CES 2022.

Kokomo gives people a new way to be together, catch up, and explore new places. The Kokomo app combines the immersive 3D experiences of virtual reality, with the ease and excitement of video calling. Make eye contact, travel to incredible destinations, and connect with family and friends on a whole new level.

Canon lists the EOS M200 and the EF-M 15-45mm among the Canon gear to use with Kokomo. The video below gives a complete introduction to Kokomo, the app and how Canon wants the 3D experiences of VR to be combined with the ease of video calling.

Canon press release:

A Real “Together” Experience Canon Enters The Virtual Reality Platform Software Market By Introducing An Interactive VR Experience With Immersive Calling

Introducing The Kokomo Software By Canon, A First-Of-Its-Kind VR Platform Software for the Company, Currently Being Developed by Canon1

MELVILLE, NY, January 4, 2022 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today showcases a first of its kind immersive virtual reality experience, the Kokomo Software by Canon. Kokomo is a software platform (currently in development1) designed to change human communication by combining virtual reality with an immersive calling experience.

This innovative software is being designed to provide users with a way to meet friends and family virtually “in-person” by using a compatible Canon camera, a VR headset and a compatible smart phone. Kokomo will allow users to see and hear one another in real time with their live appearance and expression, in a photo-real environment, while experiencing a premium virtual reality setting in captivating locations like Malibu, New York, or Hawaii.

The app uses Canon cameras and imaging technology to create realistic representations of users, so calls feel like you are interacting face-to-face, rather than through a screen or an avatar. This creates a Real“Together” Experience.

“With Kokomo we’re tapping into Canon’s innovative spirit and heritage of high-quality imaging to enable people to have real, authentic interactions when they get together in VR. Every ImmersiveCall should be a memorable experience,” said Kazuto “Kevin” Ogawa, president and CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Kokomo will enable people to create memorable, meaningful connections.”

CES® attendees will be amongst the first to try out the Kokomo software (currently in development) by Canon during the ImmersiveCall demonstration which will feature the Canon RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye Lens. Kokomo will be available in 2022 and the company plans to add new destinations, functionalities, and features to the Kokomo app, along with expanded compatibility with Canon cameras.

A Parody Comparison: Sony a1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Canon EOS R3

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Here is a neat parody about the competition in the mirrorless market. It’s survival of the fittest: Sony a1, Nikon Z9 and Canon EOS R3.

The folks at DPReview TV made the little parody video below. Imagine…

A plane crash leaves the mirrorless flagships overexposed to the dynamic range of elements. Will Canon, Nikon & Sony come to their sensors and group together to weather the aberrations ahead, or will they cannibalize one another?

Which one will survive through hunger (battery), nighttime and the ever persistent menace of smartphones? See for yourself.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III Company’s Last Flagship DSLR, Exec Says

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Yesterday a news about Canon broke over the Internet. Not only the source of the news wasn’t cited by the usual suspects, but it was also reported in a misleading way.

asobinet.com broke the news reporting an interview with a Canon exec, Canon’s Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai. In the interview. Mr Fujio Mitarai states that the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III will be Canon’s last flagship DSLR. The future belongs to mirrorless:

The market needs are acceleratingly shifting to mirrorless cameras. In line with this, we are steadily shifting people

However, that does not mean Canon will no longer produce DSLRs, as some sites want you to believe. From the interview:

Demand for beginner and intermediate SLR cameras is strong overseas, so we plan to continue development and production for the time being.

It doesn’t really come to a surprise that Canon will no longer produce a flagship DSLR, given all the efforts they put into mirrorless. The next Canon flagship camera will be the Canon EOS R1.

Canon EOS R3 Review – 10 Things To Love Or Hate

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A rather comprehensive Canon EOS R3 review and walk-through.

Canon EOS R3 at a glance:

  • 24MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Sensor
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, Eye Control AF
  • 6K60 Raw and 4K120 10-Bit Internal Video
  • 30 fps E. Shutter, 12 fps Mech. Shutter
  • 5.76m-Dot EVF with 120 fps Refresh Rate
  • 3.2″ 4.2m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Sensor-Shift 5-Axis Image Stabilization
  • Multi-Function Shoe, Built-In Vert. Grip
  • CFexpress & SD UHS-II Memory Card Slots
  • Wired LAN and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Support

Gerald Undone talks five features in his EOS R3 review he thinks are a big step forward for Canon and five things that in his opinion still need improvement. Enjoy.

You can download the Canon EOS R3 user manual from Canon. Or you might read it online. A technical brochure about the EOS R3 is available. You can watch the EOS R3 live-stream again here. More EOS R3 review stuff is listed here. We put together some interesting videos about the EOS R3, listed here. Be sure to check Gordon Laing’s in-depth review of the EOS R3, part 1 and part 2. Oh, and don’t forget to listen how the R3’s 30fps sound. Canon EOS R3 product description after the break.

Order in the USA ($5,999):
B&H Photo | Adorama

All Canon EOS R3 world-wide order links: [shoplist 67350]

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