{{Infobox company | name = Sony Depthsensing Solutions SA/NV | logo = frameless|class=skin-invert | former_name = SoftKinetic | type = Subsidiary | industry = Software, semiconductors | founded = {{start date and age|September 2009}} | founder = Maarten Kuijk, André Miodezky, Eric Krzeslo, Xavier Baele, Ward Van der Tempel, Riemer Grootjans, Tomas Van den Hauwe, Thibaud Remacle, Gilles Pinault, Daniël Van Nieuwenhove | hq_location_city = Auderghem | hq_location_country = Belgium | products = iisu, DepthSense, CMOS Pixel | production = | production_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | operating_income = | income_year = | net_income = | net_income_year = | owner = | num_employees = 51-200<ref>{{cite web |title=Sony Depthsensing Solutions |url=https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Sony-Depthsensing-Solutions-EI_IE2036340.11,38.htm |website=Glassdoor |access-date=19 July 2021}}</ref> | parent = {{ill|Sony Semiconductor Solutions|ja|ソニーセミコンダクタソリューションズ}} | website = https://www.sony-depthsensing.com }}
'''Sony Depthsensing Solutions SA/NV''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Network of Operations（Overseas） {{!}} Company |url=https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/company/base/overseas.html |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group |language=en}}</ref> formerly known as '''SoftKinetic Systems''', is a Belgian company originating from the merger of '''Optrima NV''', founded by André Miodezky, Maarten Kuijk, Daniël Van Nieuwenhove, Ward Van der Tempel, Riemer Grootjans and Tomas Van den Hauwe and '''SoftKinetic SA''' founded by Eric Krzeslo, Thibaud Remacle, Gilles Pinault and Xavier Baele. Sony Depthsensing Solutions develops gesture recognition hardware and software for real-time range imaging (3D) cameras (such as time-of-flight cameras). SoftKinetic was founded in July 2007 providing gesture recognition solutions{{buzzword inline|date=October 2019}} based on its technology to the interactive digital entertainment, consumer electronics, health & fitness, and serious game industries.<ref name="mission">{{cite web |url=http://www.softkinetic.com/AboutUs/VisionandMission.aspx |title=About Us * Vision and Mission |access-date=2011-08-01 |publisher=SoftKinetic}}</ref> SoftKinetic technology has been applied to interactive digital signage and advergaming,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wirelessronin.com/6.0_news_99.html |title=Wireless Ronin Provides Digital Signage and Collaborates with Dimensional Innovations for Sprint Experience at New Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium |access-date=2009-02-19|date=2008-11-19|publisher=Wireless Ronin Technologies}}</ref> interactive television,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=652907 |title=Orange Vallee demos Keanu motion-sensitive TV interface |access-date=2009-02-19 |date=2009-01-12 |work=Telecompaper}}</ref> and physical therapy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/softkinetic-and-silverfit-introduce-senior-targeted-gaming-platform |title=Softkinetic and Silverfit Introduce Senior-Targeted Gaming Platform |access-date=2009-02-19 |last=Cowan |first=Danny |date=2008-12-19 |work=Gamasutra |publisher=Think Services}}</ref>
Originally centered on providing software development kits and middleware, SoftKinetic branched out into internal game and application development with the establishment of SoftKinetic Studios in September 2009. SoftKinetic then progressed into hardware, partnering with time-of-flight camera developer Optrima in September 2010, with the two companies merging into a reformed SoftKinetic Systems by March 2011.<ref name="mission" />
SoftKinetic's gesture recognition software platform, named ''iisu'', can recognize and distinguish or isolate different scenic elements, can identify and track the body parts of a user, and can adapt the user's shape, posture, and movements to an existing physical model, and vice versa. iisu is compatible with all major real-time range imaging cameras, and the middleware guards developers against the particularities of the hardware.<ref name="iisu">{{cite web |url=http://www.softkinetic.com/Portals/0/Documents/PDF/iisu3.0_Datasheet_V1.7.pdf |title=iisu™ Datasheet V1.7 |access-date=2012-01-09 |publisher=Softkinetic}}</ref>
SoftKinetic's hardware, named ''DepthSense'' (formerly ''OptriCam''),<ref name="DepthSense">{{cite web |url=http://www.softkinetic.com/Solutions/DepthSensecameras.aspx |title=DepthSense™ 3D Camera |access-date=2012-01-10 }}</ref> is a line of 3D time-of-flight imagers based on patented CMOS sensor and time-of-flight (TOF) technologies. Based on Current Assisted Photonic Demodulation (CAPD), the company's patented CMOS pixel technology, DepthSense hardware products range from sensors to consumer and professional 3D cameras.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.softkinetic.com/PressRoom/News/20110509Brussels.aspx |title=EEDOO Selects Softkinetic's 3D Camera Technology for Gesture-based iSec Sports Entertainment Center |date=2011-05-09 |publisher=SoftKinetic |access-date=2011-08-01}}</ref>
SoftKinetic Studios has collaborated on numerous gesture recognition-based projects for various platforms such as PC, consoles, set-top boxes, arcade, and interactive digital signage; with companies such as Orange Vallée and Fuel Industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.softkinetic-studios.com/Projects.aspx |title=Projects |date=2011-05-09 |publisher=SoftKinetic Studios |access-date=2011-08-01}}</ref>
On 8 October 2015, Sony Corporation announced the acquisition of the company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sony Acquires Belgian Innovator of Range Image Sensor Technology, Softkinetic Systems S.A., in its Push Toward Next-Generation Range Image Sensors and Solutions |url=https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/201510/15-083E/ |website=Sony |access-date=19 July 2021 |date=October 8, 2015}}</ref>
In December 2017, Softkinetic was renamed to Sony Depthsensing Solutions.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.sony-depthsensing.com/about/ |website=Sony DepthSensing |access-date=19 July 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * Time-of-flight Optical Ranging Sensor Based on a Current Assisted Photonic Demodulator - D. Van Nieuwenhove, W. Van der Tempel, R. Grootjans and M. Kuijk http://leosbenelux.org/symp06/s06p209.pdf
Category:Middleware Category:Computer hardware companies Category:Video game development companies Category:Gesture recognition Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions