Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) approved $100 million through its investment fund to convert its vision of creating a computer that can see and hear, and promised to make the technology available by late 2014, says a report from Mark Hachman from PCWorld.
On Tuesday, the chip maker launched the Intel Capital Experiences and Perceptual Computing Fund, which will use $100 with a focus on technology, over the next two or three years.
Intel’s vision
Last year in September, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) came out with a vision of a camera from Creative Technologies that can recognize gestures, act on voice commands, and recognize faces. Intel told on Wednesday that such a camera from Creative Technologies, called the Senz3D, is still in a development phase. However, the chip maker also told that the product will be available to the users by next year.
President of Intel Capital and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) executive vice president said “Devices with human-like senses—the ability to see, hear and feel much like people do—has long been a subject of science fiction but is now within reach given recent innovations in computer power and camera technology.” The new fund will focus on start-ups and companies that can help with such technologies. The fund will provide business development support along with providing networking and technology expertise required to make the product available worldwide, he added.
Gesture Technology already available
The experts are of the opinion that there are already such technologies available. PointGrab, an Israeli developer, showcased a technology that uses the webcam inbuilt in notebooks to recognize gestures. Assaf Gad, the vice president of marketing and product, told that the Windows 8.1 will have the ability to recognize new gestures, such as hands-free volume controls. “Air drawing” will also be supported by the new version, he added.
Samsung TV’s and PC’s sold by Acer and Fujitsu already use the PointGrab’s technology. Also, a hands-free app for iPhones is also available.
Kinect Camera
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) also announced that it would license SoftKinetic’s issue middle-ware, which will be an addition to its existing SDK for perceptual computing. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is ahead of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) when it comes to perceptual computing. The software giant, in 2012, launched a version of its Kinect depth-sensing camera for Windows. The Kinect camera came originally with the Xbox game console, can also be used separately to enhance big screen experience, like in malls, theatres, and other public spaces.
Microsoft recently announced that the latest version of Kinect camera that comes along with Xbox One would also be implemented for Windows, as well.
