Photography

Duo camera splits in half to take two photos at once

Duo camera splits in half to take two photos at once
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
View 26 Images
The entire Duo concept centered around giving photographers a greater emotional connection to their subjects by including themselves in each shot
1/26
The entire Duo concept centered around giving photographers a greater emotional connection to their subjects by including themselves in each shot
The Duo produces a composite image, with the two different pictures side-by-side
2/26
The Duo produces a composite image, with the two different pictures side-by-side
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further to include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
3/26
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further to include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
Liao has already built a working prototype from wood that requires a wired connection to a computer at the moment
4/26
Liao has already built a working prototype from wood that requires a wired connection to a computer at the moment
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
5/26
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
The main idea is to include the photographer in their own pictures, but a pair of synchronized cameras could be useful for capturing dual perspectives of almost any event
6/26
The main idea is to include the photographer in their own pictures, but a pair of synchronized cameras could be useful for capturing dual perspectives of almost any event
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
7/26
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
Liao has produced a non-functioning model of a sleeker version that would include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
8/26
Liao has produced a non-functioning model of a sleeker version that would include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
Liao's non-functional model of a sleeker version includes an option to desynchronize the two shutters
9/26
Liao's non-functional model of a sleeker version includes an option to desynchronize the two shutters
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
10/26
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
Liao developed the Duo as part a dual MA/MSc degree in Innovation Design Engineering (IDE) from both the Royal College of Art and the Imperial College London
11/26
Liao developed the Duo as part a dual MA/MSc degree in Innovation Design Engineering (IDE) from both the Royal College of Art and the Imperial College London
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
12/26
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further beyond its current state
13/26
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further beyond its current state
The entire Duo concept centered around giving photographers a greater emotional connection to their subjects by including themselves in each shot
14/26
The entire Duo concept centered around giving photographers a greater emotional connection to their subjects by including themselves in each shot
The Duo produces a composite image, with the two different pictures side-by-side
15/26
The Duo produces a composite image, with the two different pictures side-by-side
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further to include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
16/26
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further to include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
Liao has already built a working prototype from wood that requires a wired connection to a computer at the moment
17/26
Liao has already built a working prototype from wood that requires a wired connection to a computer at the moment
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
18/26
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
The main idea is to include the photographer in their own pictures, but a pair of synchronized cameras could be useful for capturing dual perspectives of almost any event
19/26
The main idea is to include the photographer in their own pictures, but a pair of synchronized cameras could be useful for capturing dual perspectives of almost any event
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
20/26
With both shutters synchronized wirelessly, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment
Liao has produced a non-functioning model of a sleeker version that would include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
21/26
Liao has produced a non-functioning model of a sleeker version that would include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo
Liao's non-functional model of a sleeker version includes an option to desynchronize the two shutters
22/26
Liao's non-functional model of a sleeker version includes an option to desynchronize the two shutters
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
23/26
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
Liao developed the Duo as part a dual MA/MSc degree in Innovation Design Engineering (IDE) from both the Royal College of Art and the Imperial College London
24/26
Liao developed the Duo as part a dual MA/MSc degree in Innovation Design Engineering (IDE) from both the Royal College of Art and the Imperial College London
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
25/26
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further beyond its current state
26/26
The designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further beyond its current state
View gallery - 26 images

A quick flick through most digital photo albums will reveal that there's usually one person missing from the majority of snapshots. Designer Chin-Wei Liao's recently crafted a concept that makes it possible for the photographer to get in the frame, too. The Duo breaks apart into two cameras to take a picture from different angles at the same time.

Liao developed the Duo as part a dual MA/MSc degree in Innovation Design Engineering from both the Royal College of Art and the Imperial College London. The entire concept centered around giving photographers a greater emotional connection to their subjects by including themselves in each shot.

At first glance, you might wonder why it would be necessary for the Duo to separate at all, rather than just have two individual cameras. With both shutters synchronized wirelessly though, users can share the camera with another person and each take photos at the exact same moment. This produces a composite image, with the two different pictures side-by-side.

The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle
The Duo separates into two cameras with synchronized shutters to capture a moment from more than one angle

The main idea is to include the photographer in their own pictures, but a pair of synchronized cameras could be useful for capturing dual perspectives of almost any event. Using a Duo, a person could, for example, simultaneously capture images of the band and the audience at a live concert. It's an intriguing idea, though a similar effect might also be achieved through an app that wirelessly syncs two phone cameras, or by remotely triggering multiple cameras.

Liao has built a working prototype from wood that requires a wired connection to a computer at the moment, but the designer told us he plans to develop the prototype further. He has already produced a non-functioning model of a sleeker version that would include individual lenses and view screens for each half of the Duo, as well as an option to desynchronize the two shutters.

Check out the video below to see how the prototype Duo camera can capture two scenes at once.

Source: Chin-Wei Liao

Camera DUO. An engaging and inclusive photo-taking experience.

View gallery - 26 images
1 comment
1 comment
dalroth5
Er...I may be missing something here, but surely since many smartphones have a camera on one side to point at the targets and another on the other side which would usually end up pointing at the taker, aren't there already (a couple of thousand?) apps to do this without buying yet another gadget? If not, then away you go guys, get writing.