Hyperlapse is a new stand alone app from Instagram to create stunning time lapse videos with amazing image stabilization technology. A time lapse video is just like a summary or a synopsis of a book. A several minutes long video condensed into just a few seconds. To see an example, watch this beautiful video shot at Mount Everest.
How it works?
Hyperlapse is one of the simplest apps I have come across in recent times. Apart from a tutorial, the app directly takes you into a full screen camera with a start and stop recording button. Once you have recorded a video, the app gives you the option to control the speed of your video. You can choose from 1x speed to 12x speed.
It may seem simple, but the real deal is happening in the back. To explain this further, let me ask you a simple question. What factor do you want the most while shooting a video on the move? I would guess the answer would be ‘a stable image’. There are a bunch of cameras available in the market with image stabilization technology. However, for a common user, finding an affordable camera with image stabilization capabilities is quite difficult.
But things will change after Hyperlapse. It gives you a wonderfully crafted image stabilizing technology, right in your smartphone. The image stabilizing control will help you record videos while on the move. Whether you are recording a moving object (walking people, moving cars, metros, etc.) or recording while moving (jogging, climbing a mountain, etc.). You will get a stable video in the end, thanks to the extremely clever algorithm devised by Instagram utilizing the gyroscope in your smartphone.
The implementation of image stabilization technology was not feasible for mobiles. However, by utilizing the gyroscope in the smartphones, the Instagram team created an algorithm to calculate the movements of the phone and adjust it in the shot to produce a more stable image. The clever thing about it is that the technology uses only a cropped version of the huge resolution of your smartphone camera, utilizing the extra pixels of the sensor to stabilize the view.
Why do I need it?
As a common user, you may not actually need to record a time lapse video, but it is really a fun thing to do. Creating and sharing a time lapse video is trending on different social media platforms. Hyperlapse does not have its own feed as yet, which is strange because it is released as a stand alone app. You will have to post the end results either on Facebook or Instagram through an automatic app switch on your smartphone. As a professional digital media agency, we often receive requests to create time lapse videos for our clients’ brands. It gives a refreshing look to introductory videos.
Wrap Up
Hyperlapse is a wonderful addition to the innovative technology within our smartphones. Now you can create beautiful videos, without using any expensive equipment. The technology is impressive and execution is wonderful. Well done Instagram!
