Prime Sense 3D sensor

This could be interesting. Prime Sense, an Israeli company, have come up with a device that “allows a computer to perceive the world in 3D and derive an understanding of the world based on sight, just the way humans do”.

The device includes a sensor, which sees a user (including their complete surroundings), and a digital component, or “brain” which learns and understands user movement within those surroundings.

Prime Sense’s interactive device can see, track and react to user movements outside the computer, all without change of environment or wearable equipment for the end user. The closed device is plug and play and platform independent.

As some observers have pointed out, this sounds much like the Wii controller, but with the added ability of being able to, for instance, hide behind objects, or serve a tennis ball by using a traditional, thrown over your shoulder, serve.

I’d be intrigued to see this in action. The user doesn’t have to wear any kind of device - all the motion is detected by the sensor. I’d also be interested to see how it copes with secondary movement, i.e. what happens if you scratch your nose during a simulated game?