Product: PrimeSense – 3D Motion Sensors Founders: Aviad Maizels, Alexander Shpunt, Tamir Berliner, Dmitri Rais and Ophir Sharon Company: PrimeSense, currently owned by Apple Start of Development: 2005
Can digital devices see and understand the world we live in, and accordingly, act like human beings? If you were to ask the founders of PrimeSense, their answer would be yes. PrimeSense is considered to be the pioneer of 3D motion sensors. The technological core of the product is a 3D sensor that maps the depth of an area, offering reliable digital vision. PrimeSense’s system of sensors can translate human movement into a synchronized image stream. Using a camera, IR light, and a dedicated electronic chip, the system codes specific body movements. This enables the hands-free operation of various electronic devices in order to track people and objects in three dimensions.
After five years of intensive development, during which time many unique patents were registered, PrimeSense’s technology hit the market in 2010, catching the eye of many developers. It was picked up by numerous companies for implementation in innovative products and applications such as computer games, robots, smart home controls, TV interfaces, rehabilitation for injuries caused by accidents, products that support the elderly, autonomous cars, and others. The keen interest in PrimeSense was due to its stability, quality, and competitive pricing in
comparison to more expensive technologies that predated it.
Technology giant Microsoft chose to integrate PrimeSense products in the Xbox 360 Kinect, the game console it launched in 2010. In 2013, PrimeSense was acquired by Apple, which based the advanced facial recognition of the iPhone X on its technology.
