PrimeSense 3D Motion Sensor Bought By Apple – What Will They Do With It?


PrimeSenseYou heard it in the title. But what could this possibly mean for Apple? Not needing touchscreen but rather floating your finger or hand over the icon to command? PrimeSense is an Israel-based company, specialized in making chips for 3D motion sensors, known mostly for their help with the Microsoft Kinect. Been confirmed by just two companies since last week, Apple has in fact invested (a rumored) $350 million. “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans”, said by Apple. But, we will not be fooled, will we? Considering the latest iPhones are already capable of some motion sensor features, we can easily guess this will only enhance those features.

primesense1Related news of Israel having it's very own gigantic tech industry may have something to do with this buyout. In fact, Israel has been a major technology hub for a while, even dubbed the worlds “start-up capital”. They rank number one in start ups, and are a huge explorer, far beyond their everyday stuff like the Kinect and Boxee. This is actually the second company Apple has purchased from them. In 2012 it was Anobit Technologies, an Israeli maker of flash storage products. However, rethinking the Apple brand brain, this technology has to go beyond iPhones, but what are their plans? Could the easiest option be to build Kinect-like technology directly into Apple branded television? Analysts have been predicting Apple TV related devices for years now. It's definitely difficult to doubt anything they can do, considering Apple has altered the entire manner in which people interact with technology; the first being the transition from keyboard to touchscreen of course. The company has also received other patents over the last few years related to gesture tech. One amount paid was a comparable $356 million, towards buying the fingerprint recognition company Authentec, utilized in the iPhone 5S.

PrimeSense2This only feeds speculation further, but sources are encouraging the idea that Apple wants to use its technology soon. The 3D sensors have a range of up to 3.5 meters, which they find a significant distance between a person and their television, and can do pretty much what we are used to from the Kinect: detection of faces, movements and map them all in 3D. Therefore, because the fingerprint scanner has already been developed and in use, plus the long winded rumors of an Apple TV (circa 2009), what will become of this Apple TV? Well, just as simple as an add on the Kinect has been, it should do the same when setting up with a television. But, because the sensor's sizes are on the large side, I have a hard time seeing PrimeSense in particular being used on phones. Now, lets sit back and see how Apple television emerges into the market.

Topics: Technology News Apple Microsoft

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