This is an update to these previous blogs:
SoftKinetic is the leading provider of 3D vision technology for consumer electronics and industrial applications. More than ten years’ R&D has produced a unique blend of 3D vision technology covering three core areas:
- Active control: to allow the user to control devices using gestures instead of touch
- Context awareness: to enable devices to gather and use information about their environment, including location, time of day, user activity, and nearby users or devices.
- Real world acquisition: to collect accurate 3D models of the real world
The following video presents The Drone is You | Love is in the air?:
What if you were able to control your AR Drone with your body gestures and moves? This is now reality. How you will use it is for you to figure out!
SoftKinetic solutions are used in a wide variety of platforms including tablets, phones, cars, hands-free augmented reality (via head-mounted displays), T.V, consoles, laptaps, 3D scanners, robots, connected objects.
The following video presents SoftKinetic | Central Media Centre Demo:
This video shows what is effectively our home media centre, allowing you to navigate features with two simple gestures. Functions within this demo include: Music / Film / TV / Video Conference Calls / Gesture Gaming / Internet and more
This application is built and powered by SoftKinetic & SoftKinetic Studios.
SoftKinetic portfolio of cross-platform 3D vision technology includes:
- The patented DepthSense 3D Imaging Time-of-Flight (ToF) CMOS sensors are able to recognize the “most subtle of everyday human gestures and the shape, size and behavior of objects.” They measure how long it takes for infrared light to make the trip from the camera and back – the Time-of-Flight (ToF) – and give the 3D DepthSense camera power to turn raw data into real time, 3D images, as well as greyscale confidence and depth map images.
- Pocket-sized DepthSense DS325 camera interacts with devices at short range, using your hands and fingers, but without touching a screen, keyboard, trackball or mouse. DS325 camera sees in 3D (depth) and high-definition 2D (color) enabling you to build precise finger and hand tracking into a wide range of applications including laptop, desktop and automotive applications.
The following video presents From Computex: SoftKinetic announces the DepthSense 325 and iisu 3.5:
Live presentation during the Computex 2012 in Taipei by Eric Krzeslo, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at SoftKinetic.
The DepthSense 325 is a professional kit for OEMs and application developers. It features high-resolution depth sensor, HD RGB and 2 microphones.
- DepthSense Modules are fully enclosed and tested time-of-flight systems that integrate into everything from robotics to portable electronics.
- DepthSense 536A Module is the next-generation DepthSense DS536 module that combines the time-of-flight sensor and latest illumination technologies to achieve even higher levels of integration. Almost any hand-held or portable device can be equipped with touch-free, gesture recognition intelligence.
- DepthSense DS536B (available in late September 2015) is thinner than the DS536A and has a lower resolution and a narrower field-of-view.
- iisu Middleware
iisu® is a complete platform for natural gesture development and deployment. iisu offers full-body skeleton tracking as well as precise hand and finger tracking. It supports powerful legacy cameras such as the original Kinect, the Asus Xtion, the Mesa SR 4000, the Panasonic D-Imager and of course the SoftKinetic DepthSense 311 and DepthSense 325 (aka Creative Senz3D).
The following video presents Introducing iisu 3.5:
iisu 3.5 (pronounced “eezoo” and abbreviated from “the Interface IS U”), the gesture recognition SDK and tools from SoftKinetic, is out and available now for developers. Get a sneak preview of what you will be able to build with us, from boosted long range interactions to brand new short range interaction for the PC.
Sony recently announced that it has it has completed the acquisition of Softkinetic Systems S.A. (“Softkinetic”) which has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.
- Sony will focus on combining Softkinetic’s ToF range image sensor technology expertise with its own technologies with the aim of developing the next generation of range image sensors and solutions, not only in the field of imaging, but for broader sensing-related applications as well.
PRESS RELEASE
October 08, 2015
Sony Acquires Belgian Innovator of Range Image Sensor Technology, Softkinetic Systems S.A., in its Push Toward Next-Generation Range Image Sensors and Solutions
Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation (“Sony”) is announcing that it has completed the acquisition of Softkinetic Systems S.A. (“Softkinetic”), after reaching an agreement with the company and its major shareholders. With this acquisition, Softkinetic – which possesses time-of-flight (“ToF”) range image sensor technology, as well as related systems and software – has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.
ToF is a method for resolving the distance to an object. ToF distance measurement pixels, which are laid on top of the sensor in two dimensions, measure the flight time (delay) it takes for light to leave the light source, reflect off the object, and return to the image sensor.
Sony will focus on combining Softkinetic’s ToF range image sensor technology expertise with its own technologies with the aim of developing the next generation of range image sensors and solutions, not only in the field of imaging, but for broader sensing-related applications as well.
No material impact is anticipated on Sony’s consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 as a result of the acquisition.
Overview of Softkinetic Systems S.A.
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Employees: 77
Business offices: Brussels, Belgium; Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Primary areas of business:
- Development and licensing of ToF range image sensors
- Development and licensing of range imaging software, such as for range image signal processing and gesture recognition
- Development of ToF range image sensor modules and reference designs
