Axis cameras as part of an interactive project popularizing science

Mission

Žádná věda, Czech Republic, has long been dedicated to the popularization of interesting scientific topics by utilizing public experiments and modern technologies. The task of this playful project was to examine the combination of mathematics, statistics and psychology, to see if pure willpower can effect certain events. A special device was created, an automatic dice thrower that required the use of an Axis Communications' IP camera equipped with special applications for video analysis and streaming. Thanks to these cameras, the view of the inside of the dice thrower and the measurement results were available to the general public on the project website and for other promotional purposes.

Solution

Experts from TINT had to solve a task, which required creation of completely new automatic equipment. They proposed using an AXIS Q1775 Network Camera together with a software application specially created for this purpose, which allows the camera to read numbers on the dice and save them into statistics. The project also used another AXIS Q1365 Network Camera equipped with the CamOverlay application, which joined the feeds from both cameras together in real time and streamed it as one single feed through the Internet.

Result

The Náhoda project, with its special dice throwing device and Axis cameras, took place over 3 weeks in November 2016 at several public places in Prague and Liberec. It also drew the attention and interest of the media and the general public. At the installation location itself, the interactive exhibit was tried by 1,300 people and thousands of additional people watched the experiment on live broadcasts. Therefore, this playfully introduced project was not only an interesting scientific project, but also an actual real life use of modern IP technologies. This device will also be used for public projects in the future.