Lytro makes its technology available to others

Nov 6, 2014 14:11 GMT  ·  By

Back in April, Lytro introduced the atypical Illum Light Field camera, which is supposed to take the pressure off the focusing game.

Light field technology allows cameras to capture not only the color and intensity of the light but also the direction.

This gives the shooter the ability to refocus images after the deed has been performed, and on top of that, create a parallax effect, where the perspective can be slightly shifted.

This all sure sounds great on paper, but the real life Illum camera came with disappointing and expensive hardware, an aspect which hindered the realization of this complex vision.

Lytro shares the perks of its tech with others

But today the company is opening up access to its technology by rolling out the Lytro Development Kit (LDK) which allows users to create their cameras the way they see fit (as seen at Venture Beat).

The first to be jumping on board with the Lytro initiative are NASA and the US Department of Defense, and you’ll shortly understand why this is the case.

Lytro is selling it for a whopping $20,000 / €16,013 on an annual subscription. This means customers will have to pay every year, but even this plan doesn’t make it easier to buy the camera.

The kit is made up of a lens, sensor, processing platform, Lytro software, imaging algorithms and a Pyhton API. The company says it’s committed to updating both hardware and software over time.

So you might be wondering what the NASA and the Department of Defense will end up doing with the light-field technology.

Well, the first will send cameras taking advantage of this tech into deep space and will use it for planetary rovers too, while the latter will use it to improve the existing night vision system by boosting the amount of light that can be picked up.

Light-field technology has been limited in appearance and it has showed up only in the company’s two products, a first-gen camera plus the Illum DSLR. But Lytro wants to help partners find their inspiration in areas it has no connection with.

Lytro's technology might even make it into smartphones one day

True, the possibilities are endless, but at this moment, Lytro is envisioning its technology going into the scientific and medical imaging spheres, as well as video and film production. Eventually, the setup will become mainstream enough to make its way into smartphones and cars.

This move highlights Lytro’s hopes of becoming more than a product company. Sharing the perks of its technology with others is an important part of helping it reach new levels. However, its own branded products will continue to be a focus for the company.