GDC 09: CEO predicts games embracing technique to hit shelves by 2010
Softkinetic has unveiled its Full Body Realistic Avatar Control system, which enables developers to implement gesture recognition into their games.
Due to be included with Softkinetic's gesture recognition middleware platform iisu, the new technology is designed to allow studios to create realistic, third-person avatars that move in real time mimicking players' actions. The tool makes use of depth-sensing cameras that recognise a player’s spatial orientation, limb positions and movements.
“The world’s largest media and entertainment companies have already embraced our technology, and have helped us refine our understanding of the requirements for realistic polygonal avatar control system,” said Softkinetic CEO Michel Tombroff.
“Our team is driving the industry and we are confident that it represents the most advanced 3D camera-based avatar animation solution available on the market today.
“We strongly believe that the video game industry will embrace 3D gesture recognition technology in 2009, and we believe the first games will hit the market as soon as 2010.”
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Softkinetic’s technology supports all available 3D depth-sensing cameras, including devices from 3DV Systems, Canesta, MESA, PMDTec, Prime Sense and Optex.
For GestureTek it is great to see the growing interest and recognition of video gesture control as the next natural step in user interface for gaming and interactive displays. GestureTek has been inventing, patenting, and pioneering gesture control technology for over 20 years and has had 3D depth sensing and stereo control software and patents in place for over 8 years. You may be interested to know that GestureTek has already commercially deployed a package that makes available all the 3D tracking and control features mentioned, plus far more. Our software has always worked with any available 3D depth camera. Although we have developed some interesting unique gesture control commands, our 3D depth sensing technology has always offered the ability for users to control the system using virtually any hand gesture, such as grabbing, swiping, waving or pointing. Besides the work we are doing with major telecom companies for their set top boxes and electronics manufacturers for their next generation of TV’s and other consumer devices, GestureTek has deployed many public interactive displays utlizing our 3D depth sensing system. Learn more at gesturetek.com. Click on 'products then 3D.
