The selfie stick has got nothing on this new device, Pixio, a camera system that will follow you around and record everything and anything you tell it to. This project is being developed by french startup Move 'N See, where engineers call it "world's first indoor & outdoor auto follow cam."
Pixio was one of the gadgets featured on CES Unveiled last month, an event at the start of the Consumer Electronics Show, that highlights new and innovative technologies. All kinds of cameras surfaced in this year's edition, riding the GoPro wave or trying to come up with new ways to shoot consumer video, like the Pixio.
After the show, Move 'N See decided to fund Pixio on crowdsourcing platform Indiegogo, and has just surpassed the final goal of $50,000, with 116 backers. Estimated delivery time is September 2015. The system can be used with standard camcorders, DSLR, action cams, smartphones, and others (the company provides a compatibility list). It tracks up to 16 people and can be used at a maximum distance of 328 feet (100 meters).
The idea for this device was generated by the increase in video-sharing in Social media and the use of video as a tool for training and performance improvement. The problem is that a cameraman is needed for shooting activities where the subject moves around, like sports.
"This is a severe limit for most people of the so called 'video generation'," the company says. Back in 2011, Move 'N See tried to solve the problem with a robot cameraman that could shoot outdoor with the aid of GPS, providing the position of the moving object.
Now, the "revolution" is that Pixio can shoot indoor as well as outdoor, using radar technology (dynamic homemade movies, coming through).
It's fairly easy to use, as we were showed in the demo at CES Unveiled: the subject wears a watch on its wrist and connects it to the Pixio, that can now follow the movement with precision. The consumer can simply turn it on and start recording, hands free, while moving, or use a remote control app built by Move 'N See for iOS and Android devices.
"For example, you can switch off the auto-follow mode. You control yourself the rotations, zoom level, and REC", the company says. it is possible to set up a timelapse sequence or even decide who is filmed and when - a useful feature for sports, that works with tags. The battery of the system lasts for four hours, while the watch can be used for three hours.
While the campaign is still active on Indiegogo, till February 19th, consumers can access the $499 promotion and secure a Pixio for themselves. After that, the price will be $749.
