Veillance Wand:

Unveils the otherwise hidden sightfield of surveillance cameras and vision sensors

1. Invention title: Veillance Wand
2. Summary explanation -- how it works: The wand contains a row of LED lights, a microcontroller, and sensors. Each light is (sur)veilluminescent, i.e. it glows when it is being watched by a surveillance camera or sousveillance camera, or computer vision system, or even by a human or other animal. During a long exposure photograph, or when viewed through a smartphone, or through AR (Augmediated Reality) glasses, running an abakographic imaging app, the otherwise invisible "sightfield" of a camera or other vision system is made visible. The result is a visible map of what the camera or vision system can "see". LED lights on a linear array (the "wand") can alo be programmed to change color depending on parameters or attributes of the surveillance (e.g. number of cameras, or closeness of the camera, etc.). For example, surveillance cameras can be marked in red, sousveillance in blue, and natural human vision in green. A version of the veillance wand has also been developed for use with human biological vision (e.g. to visualize differences in eyesight capability among different people).
3. Example commercial application: I originally created this invention as a visual artist to picture the otherwise hidden worlds of surveillance, sousveillance, and vision, and create discourse on the topic of sur/sous/veillance in society. As a commercial product the Veillance Wand can be used by surveillance experts to visualize surveillance camera coverage, for example, in a bank or art gallery, to find "dead spots" or to verify that the surveillance coverage is complete. It can be used by insurance companies to assess coverage (i.e. safety and risk assessment). It can be used by planners to visualize future or planned surveillance coverage. This could be a potentially large (multi billion dollar) market if it became required equipment for insurance coverage, or for surviellance audits. It can also be used to help ensure privacy and lack of veillance coverage in certain areas (e.g. to make sure that a surveillance camera in a hallway doesn't see into a washroom or locker room area by way of multiple reflections of mirrors, etc.). And it can be used by authorities, or by individuals, e.g. as a form of visual art, and gaming. As a gaming device, it creates a new future in reality-based 3D AR gaming, creating a large market sector:
   
   Gaming applications of this invention can be regarded as part of the Veillance Wand invention, or as a separate invention: VeillanceGames. The invention can also be used to compare veillance, e.g. to ensure equiveillance (e.g. approximately equal coverage by surveillance and sousveillance cameras) or to compare the relative coverage of human vision with the vision from a surveillance or sousveillance camera.
4. Link to technical papers associated with the invention: "The Sightfield". Additional link: pictures taken with the invention. Related work: Using this invention in a 3D AR game play environment and also Measuring Veillance and abakography. Press coverage: This Light-Painting Wand Illuminates the Gaze of Security Cameras.
5. Patent applications filed or issued: Patent pending. A provisional US patent, with full set of claims, was filed Sunday2014may04. There is still time to file a PCT or to file in other countries, before the 1 year "grace period" is up on 2015 May 04. Other previous patents have already been granted.
6. Prototypes constructed: Several working prototypes have been constructed but additional work is required regarding industrial design, ruggedization, and other improvements.
7. Further possibilities: As mentioned above, gaming applications of this invention can be regarded as part of this Veillance Wand invention, or as a separate invention: VeillanceGames.

   The Veillance Wand invention can be extended and deepened, if desired, by including Ryan Janzen, co-creator of the veillometer.

   We also have collaborators at the Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing, University of Toronto, capable of making a Bio-Nano Holography version of the Veillance Wand that works with the MannGlass holographic video HUD (Head Up Display) for use in eyeglasses and automobile windshields, etc:
   
   (S. Mann is cross-appointed to the Faculty of Forestry, where the CBBP is based.)