Apple's rumored PrimeSense buy may open Siri's eyes
For years, technologies like Apple’s Siri and Google’s Google Now have been flying blind, awoken by the spoken command of their users. If Apple acquires PrimeSense, perceptual computing may finally open its eyes.
Reports from Israel’s Calcalist indicate that Apple is close to snapping up PrimeSense for $345 million or so—lower than what investors had hoped for, apparently. PrimeSense has not confirmed the talks, which reportedly could be concluded as early as this week.
Gamers know PrimeSense—the company was the eyes and ears behind the original Xbox, able to “see” users and put them inside the game itself. The original Xbox also recognizes spoken commands, which can be used to control the console itself (and, to a lesser extent, some games—although gamers haven’t warmed to in-game commands as readily.)
One possible reason for the relatively low valuation is that both Microsoft and Intel are each working on perceptual computing themselves. Rather than use a PrimeSense sensor, the Xbox One incorporates its own, smaller sensor, which has been improved and more deeply integrated into the Xbox OS. (The One launches this Friday.) Intel has also worked with third parties, including Creative, to integrate depth-sensing cameras like the kind PrimeSense helped develop into ultrabooks by the end of 2014. Another Israeli developer, PointGrab, has also showed off technology that uses the Webcam built into notebooks to recognize gestures.
To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
http://www.macworld.com/article/2064504/apples-rumored-primesense-buy-may-open-siris-eyes.html#tk.rss_all
