3D Printing Was Used to make Paragraphica, a New AI Camera

News and innovations about AI (Artificial Intelligence) have become more and more common in recent times. The latest innovation in the field that has caused no small stir is Paragraphica. What is it? A decidedly atypical “camera” with no lens! Paragraphica, in fact, does not actually take photos but is based on an artificial intelligence algorithm that generates “photos” based on geographic location and other parameters that can be set. But what really interests us about Paragraphica? The outer shell was completely 3D printed!

As mentioned, Paragraphica is a “camera” without a sensor or lens. Instead, it generates images using an artificial intelligence algorithm. It was created by Danish artist and designer Bjørn Karmann and is able to use location and date data to display a picture of a specific place and time. It was inspired by the star-nosed mole (as shown by the design in the front which is reminiscent of the animal’s unique nose) which lives underground and thus finds light useless. Rather it perceives its world through its finger-like antennae, something that has been recreated with Paragraphica.

Paragraphica is a unique look at how we create images

But that’s not all! The artificial intelligence algorithm can process data on time and date, address, weather conditions, temperature and even any points of interest. It simply inputs the various inputs and based on these Paragraphica composes a paragraph detailing a representation of the current place and time. Using artificial intelligence that turns the text into an image, the paragraph is converted into a “picture.”

It will then be possible to get the same photo in the same place at the same time, with a clear or cloudy sky, with numerous people present or completely isolated, and so on. The interesting (and impressive) thing is to see the comparison between the real and AI-generated photos. In that case the resulting “photo” is not just a snapshot, but perhaps the visual embodiment of how the AI “sees” that place.

The comparison between the real photo and the AI-generated photo.

The Use of 3D Printing for Paragraphica

Bjørn Karmann describes in detail on Paragraphica’s official website the composition of the “camera.” Inside the “camera body” is a Raspbberry Pi 4 Model B board connected to a 1.5-inch touch screen. In addition, the creator discloses that the entire structure was made by 3D printing. Although he does not specify what process it is, it is most likely that it was printed with plastic materials via FDM technology.

The process of making Paragraphica

On the top of the shell are dials that are used to adjust the width of the image area that will be generated, the sharpness of the image, and the noise seed, which can be set from 0.1 to 1. Finally, it should be noted that the physical object is mostly a prototype and that it is instead possible to use the technology online directly from the dedicated site as well. For more info on Paragraphica HERE.

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*All Photo Credits: Paragraphica/Bjørn Karmann