Category: Embedded systems

Today, we will discuss the software ‘Megapixels’ vs ‘Hardware Megapixel’

First, you should know about the pixels. Pixels are the smallest unit that makes up an image. Pixels are made up of RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) subpixels, and the intensity of each subpixel will decide the final output colors.

So basically, more pixels will make a better-looking and well-defined image.

You may have heard of the term PPI (Pixels Per Inch), which defines the number of pixels that an image or video has per inch of its area.

There is a second important thing, and that is resolution, which gives an idea about an image. A higher-resolution image would have a higher number of pixels, whereas a lower number of pixels would make a lower-resolution image.

Normally, when we say megapixel of a camera, it means the number of photoreceptors on the camera. So higher the megapixels (physical), the better the image quality.

Now, see what happens with the software megapixels. Mobile camera takes (captures) the image and at the software level makes the image better by creating more details based on the existing image details. Different software algorithms are used for this purpose.

By this method, mobile phones create better-looking images with fewer physical megapixels.

On the other hand, we, as normal consumers, only see or have a perception that higher megapixels means a better camera, and we don’t investigate the reality behind it, whether it is physical megapixels or software-based.

That’s the reason why Apple’s camera is better than most of its Chinese competitors because the former one has better physical camera capabilities.

• You might have heard of smartphones with large zoom capabilities. But there is a catch to it. One type of zoom is camera zoom, and the other is a software-based zoom.
• So, optical zoom zooms into the frame before capturing an image. Digital zoom zooms in after taking an image.
• In an optical zoom camera lens, parts move to achieve the zoom facility. Digital zoom enlarges the selected parts of the captured image. But in the second option (Digital zoom), there is a loss of clarity.
• Let’s take an example of the OnePlus 13, which has an optical zoom of 3x and a digital zoom of 30x
• The reason for deformity in zooming in digital zoom mode is that pixels are fixed, but you are zooming in, which makes the density of pixels less on the same screen and image a little blur as the zoom increases.

Arduino is widely used because it is open-source and widely documented.

We can make flexible Arduino on materials like polyimide, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

A flexible Arduino can be made with photolithography. These circuits are the same as PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) and use copper strips as a conductive medium.

Advantages of a flexible Arduino

• It can be placed on wearable clothes, where it would be connected to the different sensors for reading different information.

These two words are very commonly used nowadays.

• Since embedded systems are widely used nowadays for almost every field of life, like medicine, offices, schools, homes, etc.

Augmented reality, in simple words, enhances the user experience in consuming videos, photos, etc.

While virtual reality completely replaces the actual real work, with a completely new environment.

• We can say that augmented reality is a lite version of virtual reality.

Now I will give two examples of each of the above

Suppose I am using a mobile phone and watching an image of some product on Amazon or Lenskart.com

• Now, if I want to try some spectacles virtually, the software will artificially place them on my face in a video.
• The same goes for if I want to buy a sofa set. Then it will be placed in my room virtually via video.

This is called augmented reality.

Now, suppose I want to watch a high-tech movie like Avatar, then in a virtual reality headset, it will be created, and everything in the real world will be replaced by it. Or if I want a simulation that I am on a beach in Miami. The virtual headset will also replace everything in my home with a completely new environment.

In short, virtual reality can simulate real-world things to anything virtually.

A board that is used to interconnect electrical components in a meaningful manner is called a breadboard.

A breadboard is not a hardwired board. It is a solderless board.

• It is different from a perforated board in the sense that it does not require soldering as a perf-board.

It has two types of sections.

• Rows: Generally used for power supply connection. This entire row is shortened horizontally. They are also called rails.
• Columns: It is used for connecting components like resistors, capacitors, inductors, LEDs, etc. Each point on a particular column is shortened, and they are called terminals.

Major advantages of breadboard

• High design modification:

The opposite of the PCB, that has a more rigid design and can not be modified easily. Breadboards are very easy to modify, as you just have to pull one component and insert the other one into the breadboard.

• Cheap:

As the design is reusable. It can be used for unlimited times to modify and redesign new circuits.

• No heavy investment required:

If you want to make some basic circuits. You just have to buy a breadboard, components, wires, power supply, etc., and you are good to go, unlike PCB manufacturing, which requires complex and expensive machinery.

Major Disadvantages of Breadboard

• It doesn’t have too many disadvantages when we see the investment vs usefulness/ learning part. But when we want to make complex circuits with hundreds of components or more, then it is required to use PCB manufacturing.