Sony might have just bolstered its efforts into augmented and virtual reality.
On Thursday, the company announced that it has purchased SoftKinetic Systems, a Belgian startup known for its image sensor technology, including depth-sensing cameras. The acquisition could go a long way in helping Sony's rollouts of its upcoming augmented reality smart eyeglasses and its PlayStation VR virtual reality headset.
SoftKinetic is known for its cameras using time-of-flight range image sensor technology, which measures the duration it takes for light to leave its source, reflect off an object and return to the image sensor. The technology, paired with the PlayStation VR headset, could allow gamers to be immersed in a virtual environment with virtual objects they can grab. A similar technology is used by Xbox Kinect, which allows gamers to track their hands and gesture to interact with their 3D environment.
SoftKinetic's depth-sensing equipment is so sophisticated that, according to reports, it has produced a proof-of-concept demo, showing how its cameras could be propped on a vehicle's dashboard — allowing the driver to control the volume, accept or make phone calls and request GPS directions, all by making simple hand gestures.
A sampling of SoftKinetic's 3D vision technology can be found on the startup company's website.
While Sony's Thursday announcement didn't mention the acquisition cost for SoftKinetic, the company did say that the purchase won't impact its finances at least until March 31, when its current fiscal year ends.
That said, just the idea that this acquisition could improve Sony's augmented reality smart glasses and PlayStation VR headset is already intriguing.
