Apple picker Apple has long been known to be trying to integrate motion sensors into its own technology, most notably its long-awaited TV set. These conjectures were further supported by the fact that Apple recently bought back PrimeSense Company.
At the same time, its 3D technology has been used by a number of products from various manufacturers in recent years. It is (or at least was) associated with the development of Kinect, a motion accessory for Microsoft's Xbox platform. PrimeSense uses "light coding" in its products, which helps construct a 3D image through a combination of infrared light and a CMOS sensor.
At this year's Google I/O conference, PrimeSense launched the technology Capri, which allows mobile devices to "see the world in 3D". It can scan the entire surrounding environment, including furniture and people, and then displays a visual representation of it on the display. It can also calculate the distance and size of various objects and allows users to interact with their surroundings through their devices. This technology will be used in interactive video games, interior mapping and other applications. The manufacturer claims that it has managed to "erase the boundary between the real and virtual worlds".
PrimeSense said at Google I/O that its new chip is ready for production and can be used in various mobile devices. The built-in Capri chip could then be used in "hundreds of thousands" of applications thanks to the upcoming SDK. Capri is small enough to fit in a mobile phone, but in Apple's case it would also make sense to use it in the (hopefully) upcoming TV.
What is certain is the Californian company's interest in the given technology. Years before this year's acquisition, he registered patents for technologies that are to some extent related to Capri. First, there is a 2009 patent that mentioned the use of hyperreal displays that allow users to view three-dimensional objects. Then, three years later, a patent that dealt with the use of motion sensors to create a three-dimensional environment within iOS.
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Another PrimeSense technology with a simple name Sense. , also enables 360° scanning of live images. From the resulting scans, a model can then be created on the computer and processed further. For example, it can be sent to a 3D printer, which then creates an exact copy of the given object. Apple, which has previously shown interest in 3D printing, could incorporate the technology into the prototyping process. Compared to the mechanical way, Sense is much cheaper and also less time-consuming.
Microsoft was also initially interested in PrimeSense, which would use the acquired technologies to improve its Kinect product. However, the company's management ultimately decided to buy the competing company Canesta. At the time of the acquisition (2010), Microsoft management felt that Canesta had more potential than PrimeSense. However, with the passage of time, it is no longer clear whether Microsoft made the right decision.
Apple bought PrimeSense at the beginning of June this year. Although the acquisition has been speculated in advance, it is still unclear how the Californian company intends to use its investment. Considering that PrimeSense's technologies have been around for several months and have reached ordinary customers, we might not have to wait long for products with the Capri chip.
