Softkinetic announces GDC demonstrations of iisu, their gesture recognition system. Unlike JVC's similar system recently mentioned here (story), this one is focused primarily on changing the way games are played:

SAN FRANCISCO - February 19, 2008 - Softkinetic today announced the first public viewing of iisu(TM), a 3D gesture recognition solution poised to change user interfaces, at the Game Developers Conference (GDC). The result of four years of research and development, iisu is a gesture recognition system that has the ability to capture full body movements as well as isolate the intricate movements of a consumer's body, such as arms or hands, to provide an unlimited number of interface options for developers to use in creating new gameplay applications. The iisu technology is compatible with most major 3D depth sensing cameras allowing users to become the actual interface, removing the need for a controller. The technologically advanced, patent-pending middleware filters out furniture, walls and other players in the room for an in-depth level of gameplay currently missing in the market.

"Prime Sense brings the world's first consumer priced 3D depth and color camera," said Adi Berenson, Vice President Business Development and Marketing, Prime Sense Ltd. "Working closely with Softkinetic, we dramatically reduce the efforts and complexity associated with development of applications that use our 3D depth and color camera and help customers bring their applications to market faster."

"Mesa is a leading provider of 3D depth sensing technology to customers in the machine vision, robotics, medical, and security industries," said Jim Lewis, CEO, Mesa Imaging AG. "Working closely with Softkinetic allows us to offer customers in the interactive digital entertainment, consumer electronics and serious games industries the combined solution to create their next generation products."

Created with developers' needs in mind, iisu is built with C and C++ for high performance and low memory usage. Developers can use C, C++ or C# APIs in synchronous or asynchronous modes for easy adaptation to any 3D physical engine. This high level API coding allows the ability to control the navigation, view orientation, object manipulation, action triggers and screen pointing.

"Softkinetic's iisu ushers in a new wave of gameplay possibilities" said Michel Tombroff, CEO Softkinetic. "With iisu's technology and high quality, low cost 3D depth sensing cameras, developers will be able to create innovative experiences that open up the world of gaming to new audiences of players."

Softkinetic's iisu supports most major 3D depth sensing cameras currently in the market. The middleware platform gives developers a rich set of interfaces that allows them to focus on gameplay design and development. Delivered as a Software Development Kit (SDK), Softkinetic's iisu includes technical consulting, 3D graphics and an application development service.