Time-lapse microscopy using smartphone with augmented reality markers.
A prototype system that replaces the conventional time-lapse imaging in microscopic inspection for use with smartphones is presented. Existing time-lapse imaging requires a video data feed between a microscope and a computer that varies depending on the type of image grabber. Even with proper hardware setups, a series of tedious and repetitive tasks is still required to relocate to the region-of-interest (ROI) of the specimens. In order to simplify the system and improve the efficiency of time-lapse imaging tasks, a smartphone-based platform utilizing microscopic augmented reality (μ-AR) markers is proposed. To evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed system, a user test was designed and performed, measuring the elapse time for a trial of the task starting from the execution of the application software to the completion of restoring and imaging of an ROI saved in advance. The results of the user test showed that the average elapse time was 65.3 ± 15.2 s with 6.86 ± 3.61 μm of position error and 0.08 ± 0.40 degrees of angle error. This indicates that the time-lapse imaging task was accomplished rapidly with a high level of accuracy. Thus, simplification of both the system and the task was achieved via our proposed system.
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Daehak-dong Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Dongyoub
D
Baek
Sungmin
S
Cho
Kyungwon
K
Yun
Keehong
K
Youn
Hyunwoo
H
Bang
D040421:Cell Phone / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D008853:Microscopy / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation; D009862:Online Systems; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging / Q000191:economics*; D012984:Software; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
augmented reality; computer vision; smartphone microscopy; time-lapse imaging