Will Bosworth models the all-recording eye: A video
camera in the backpack is connected by a cable to
a bullet camera on the maker’s head.
And, I don’t know about you, but cameras and
greasy welding workshops don’t mix well.
My latest solution is a head-mounted video camera. It’s been the domain of extreme sportists for a
while, but its true home is in the workshop. The solution is still expensive, but I suspect the toy industry
will soon solve that problem for us. What I’m experimenting with right now for documentation is pretty
simple, but you still have to put it together yourself.
My current solution (as seen above) may not be
the most stylish thing you’ve ever worn on your
head, but it doesn’t get in your way. And because
it’s video, you can record the entire project. It’s
great to have all the footage to choose from.
It’s quite simple. I put the camcorder in a Pelican
watertight case. The LANC controller and bullet
camera emerge from that case, which resides in a
slim, comfortable backpack. I’ve mounted the bullet camera on an old Petzl head-mounted flashlight
holder with the controller on the backpack strap.
Photograph by Erich Brandeau
Unfortunately, editing still takes a long while.
iMovie has improved things, but an hour of videotape
is still an hour of video to go through, no matter how
easy the interface is. I don’t yet have any answers to
the ultimate in documentation, but I’ve been learning a lot with the head-mounted camera. I happily
recommend it, but what I’d really recommend is for
people to explore the solution space until someone
figures out the cheapest and simplest way.
There will be a moment in my life when I want to
know how to reboot a Prius car computer to run on
a higher mix of ethanol using nothing but a Treo, and
I hope that I’ll be able to get that tutorial when the
moment arises. That level of MAKE-ability doesn’t
exist yet, but I know it has a lot to do with how we
document things as a collective. Bring on the memex.
Find complete instructions for the Helmet Cam
at
instructables.com.
YOU WILL NEED:
Sony DCR-HC32 camcorder Good because it
has a LANC controller and video input.
Hoyttech bullet camera They make a sweet
one with 580 lines of resolution.
Hoyttech LANC controller This is a remote
control for the camera.
Pelican case with waterproof feed-throughs
(
bhphotovideo.com) To keep it all safe
from water, oil, dust, and welding sparks.
Saul Griffith thinks about open source hardware while working
with the power-nerds at Squid Labs (
squid-labs.com).
