{{short description|Software development company}} {{Infobox company | name = Gestigon |logo= Gestigon_logo.png | industry = Automotive, consumer electronics, virtual reality, augmented reality, smart home technology and IoT | founded = September 2011 | founder = Sascha Klement, CTO<br/>Moritz von Grotthuss, CEO (late founder)<br/>Erhardt Barth<br/>Thomas Martinetz | key_people = Fabian von Kuenheim (lead investor, advisory board)<br/>Holger G. Weiss (advisory board)<br/>Gunnar Gräf (advisory board) | location = Lübeck, Germany<br>Sunnyvale, California, U.S. | products = Software, GECKO, FLAMENCO, Carnival SDK | website = {{url|www.gestigon.com}} }} '''Gestigon ''' (stylized as '''gestigon''') is a software development company founded in September 2011, to develop software for gesture control and body tracking based on 3D depth data.<ref>{{cite web|title=(in Russian) Manage gestures for Audi cars took to develop the specialists of the German company Gestigon |publisher=Digitimes – China |date=2016-01-27 |url=http://www.digitimes.com.tw/tw/dt/n/shwnws.asp?id=0000459049_3OH1D2AC3VGPQ4LOFLLAM |access-date=2016-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306111104/http://www.digitimes.com.tw/tw/dt/n/shwnws.asp?id=0000459049_3OH1D2AC3VGPQ4LOFLLAM |archive-date=2016-03-06 }}</ref>

{{As of|2016}}, Gestigon began developing augmented reality and automotive solutions for Audi,<ref>{{cite web | title = Gestigon provides gesture control solution for Audi at the CES ASIA | publisher = Ai-online | date = | url = http://www.ai-online.com/Adv/Previous/show_issue.php?id=6706&search=true | access-date = 2016-02-09 | archive-date = 2016-03-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305113120/http://www.ai-online.com/Adv/Previous/show_issue.php?id=6706&search=true | url-status = dead }}</ref> [http://www.pr.com/press-release/665802 Renault] and Volkswagen, and also AR/VR headsets.<ref>{{cite web | title = BMW's flagship gives gesture controls first big test | publisher = Autonews | date = 18 June 2015| url = http://www.autonews.com/article/20150620/OEM06/306229995/bmws-flagship-gives-gesture-controls-first-big-test | access-date = 2016-02-09 }}</ref>

In March 2017, Gestigon was acquired by Valeo, a French automotive supplier.<ref>{{cite web | title = Valeo acquires 3D image processing startup Gestigon | publisher = techEU | date = 13 March 2017| url = http://tech.eu/brief/valeo-acquires-gestigon/ | access-date = 2017-03-26 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/valeo-acquiert-l-allemand-gestigon-specialiste-de-l-image-3d.N513294|title=Valeo acquiert l'allemand Gestigon, spécialiste de l'image 3D – L'Usine Auto|last=Nouvelle|first=L'Usine|date=2017-03-13|work=usinenouvelle.com/|access-date=2018-05-28|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/valeo-acquiert-gestigon-specialiste-du-traitement-d-images-en-3d-de-l-habitacle-1213305|title=VALEO acquiert gestigon, spécialiste du traitement d'images en 3D de l'habitacle|date=2017-03-13|work=Capital.fr|access-date=2018-05-28|language=fr-FR}}</ref>

==History== The company was founded by Sascha Klement, Erhardt Barth, and Thomas Martinetz.

Sascha Klement worked as a student assistant and Ph.D. student for the professors Thomas Martinetz and Erhardt Barth,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sascha Klement: Institut für Neuro- und Bioinformatik |url=https://www.inb.uni-luebeck.de/en/staff/former-employees/sascha-klement.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=www.inb.uni-luebeck.de |language=en}}</ref> who have been developing software solutions based on time-of-flight sensors at the University of Lübeck since 2002. Together they founded Gestigon in 2011 with seed-funding from High-Tech Gründerfonds, Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein and local business angels.<ref>{{cite web | title = Geräte steuern mit Gesten: gestigon erhält Seedfinanzierung | publisher = High-Tech Gründerfonds | date = 2013-02-03 | url = http://high-tech-gruenderfonds.de/de/natural-user-interfaces-gerate-steuern-mit-gesten-gestigon-erhalt-seedfinanzierung/ | access-date = 2017-02-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Millionenbetrag für Lübecker Tech-Startup Gestigon | publisher = Gründerszene | date = 2014-12-05 | url = http://www.gruenderszene.de/allgemein/gestigon-series-a-siebenstellig | access-date = 2017-02-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Revolution per Fingerschnipp | publisher = Starting Up | date = 2013-02-03 | url = http://www.starting-up.de/geschaeftsideen/gruenderstorys/gestigon.html | access-date = 2017-02-28 | archive-date = 2017-03-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170301094248/http://www.starting-up.de/geschaeftsideen/gruenderstorys/gestigon.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In March 2012, Moritz von Grotthuss joined the company as advisor and later rose to CEO. In the same month, Gestigon was 1 of 15 companies that received an Innovation Award at CeBIT 2012.<ref>{{cite web | title = Gewinner des "Gründerwettbewerbs – IKT innovativ" auf CeBIT ausgezeichnet | publisher = Innomonitor | date = 2012-07-03 | url = http://www.innomonitor.de/index2.php?id=132&be=3203 | access-date = 2016-02-09 }}</ref>

In January 2013, Gestigon participated at CES in Las Vegas and, later that year, also at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York City.<ref>{{cite AV media |people= Moritz von Grotthuss |date= 2013-04-30 |title= Gestigon Links The Human Skeleton To Apps |url= https://www.forbes.com/video/2564673165001/ |access-date= 2016-02-12 |publisher= Forbes }}</ref> The next year Visteon and Volkswagen used Gestigon's gestures solutions in their products presented at CES 2014.<ref>{{cite web | title = Touchless Control Coming to Cars | publisher = Visteon | date = 2014-03-04 | url = http://www.visteon.com/media/touchless.pdf | access-date = 2016-02-09 | archive-date = 2016-03-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307100151/http://www.visteon.com/media/touchless.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> It won the CeBIT Innovation Award again in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=gestigon ist ausgezeichneter Ort im "Land der Ideen" |publisher=Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy |date=2015-11-10 |url=http://www.gruenderwettbewerb.de/service/nachrichten/gestigon-ist-ausgezeichneter-ort-im-land-der-ideen |access-date=2016-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309075249/http://www.gruenderwettbewerb.de/service/nachrichten/gestigon-ist-ausgezeichneter-ort-im-land-der-ideen |archive-date=2016-03-09 }}</ref>

Gestigon's technologies were included Audi at CES 2015 and CES 2016; Volkswagen and Infineon. Gestigon launched its Virtual Reality solution Carnival at the TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco in September 2015, using an Oculus Rift and different depth sensors. The first demo using a mobile device was done at the CES in 2015. In 2015, Gestigon partnered with Inuitive, a 3D computer vision and image processors developer, to create a VR unit. The system was presented at CES 2016 assembled on an Oculus Rift development kit.<ref>{{cite web | title = Inuitive and Gestigon bring gesture recognition to VR at CES | publisher = Shootonline | date = 2016-01-04 | url = http://www.shootonline.com/node/65217 | access-date = 2016-02-09 }}</ref>

In July 2015, Gestigon closed its Series A financing round from with nbr technology ventures GmbH as a primary investor headed by Fabian von Kuenheim and High-Tech Gründerfonds and Vorwerk Direct Selling Ventures. Fabian von Kuenheim became chairman of the advisory board which was also composed of the German entrepreneur Holger G. Weiss and the French investor Gunnar Graef.<ref>{{cite web | title = Gestigon closes a successful Series A financing | publisher = High-tech Gruenderfonds | date = | url = http://high-tech-gruenderfonds.de/en/Gestigon-closes-a-successful-series-a-financing/ | access-date = 2016-02-09 }}</ref> In March 2017, Gestigon was acquired by French automotive supplier, Valeo.<ref>{{cite web | title = Valeo acquires 3D image processing startup Gestigon | publisher = techEU | date = 13 March 2017| url = http://tech.eu/brief/valeo-acquires-gestigon/ | access-date = 2017-03-26 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/valeo-acquiert-l-allemand-gestigon-specialiste-de-l-image-3d.N513294|title=Valeo acquiert l'allemand Gestigon, spécialiste de l'image 3D – L'Usine Auto|last=Nouvelle|first=L'Usine|date=2017-03-13|work=usinenouvelle.com/|access-date=2018-05-28|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/valeo-acquiert-gestigon-specialiste-du-traitement-d-images-en-3d-de-l-habitacle-1213305|title=VALEO acquiert gestigon, spécialiste du traitement d'images en 3D de l'habitacle|date=2017-03-13|work=Capital.fr|access-date=2018-05-28|language=fr-FR}}</ref> In March 2017, Gestion developed software that recognizes driving gestures.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ngin-mobility.com/artikel/luebecker-startup-gestigon-autozulieferer-valeo/|title=Lübecker Startup Gestigon geht an französischen Autozulieferer {{!}} NGIN Mobility|date=2017-03-13|work=NGIN Mobility|access-date=2018-05-28|language=de-DE|archive-date=2018-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010833/https://ngin-mobility.com/artikel/luebecker-startup-gestigon-autozulieferer-valeo/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Products== Gestigon develops software that works with 3D sensors to recognize human gestures, poses and biometrical features in real time,<ref>{{cite web | title = BMW's flagship gives gesture controls first big test | publisher = Autonews | date = 18 June 2015| url = http://www.autonews.com/article/20150620/OEM06/306229995/bmws-flagship-gives-gesture-controls-first-big-test | access-date = 2016-02-09 }}</ref> such as:

* Gecko, a feature tracker that tracks an individual and measures their biometric features,<ref>{{cite web | title = Gestigon: Gesture & Skeletal Recognition – Automotive Leads the Way | publisher = Telematics wire | date = | url = http://telematicswire.net/Gestigon-gesture-skeletal-recognition-automotive-leads-the-way/ | access-date = 2016-02-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160220180030/http://telematicswire.net/gestigon-gesture-skeletal-recognition-automotive-leads-the-way/ | archive-date = 2016-02-20 | url-status = dead }}</ref> * Flamenco, a piece of software for finger and hand gesture control,<ref>{{cite web | title = Gestigon Gesture Tracking | publisher = Techcrunch | date = 2013-04-29 | url = https://techcrunch.com/video/gestigon-gesture-tracking/517762030/ |access-date= 2016-02-12}}</ref> * Carnival SDK, software for augmented reality and virtual reality,<ref>{{cite web | title = (in Chinese) Virtual Reality (VR) is embedded platform greatly enhance the realism of gesture recognition |author= Zhengfei Wen | publisher =Ixbt – Russia | date = 2016-01-27 | url =http://www.ixbt.com/news/ht/188821 | access-date = 2015-05-28 }}</ref> which allows users to see and use their hands in virtual interfaces.<ref>{{cite web | title = Gestigon Ports its Firmware to PMD and Inuitive Hardware | publisher = Appmarsh | date = 2016-01-04 | url = http://www.appmarsh.com/Gestigon-ports-its-firmware-to-pmd-and-inuitive-hardware/ | access-date = 2016-02-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160106234407/http://www.appmarsh.com/gestigon-ports-its-firmware-to-pmd-and-inuitive-hardware/ | archive-date = 2016-01-06 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Gestigon's solutions are based on skeleton recognition. Their software recognizes body parts in 3D data to make the recognition faster and more accurate.<ref>{{cite web | title = Gestigon – Minority Report made real with gesture-control technology | publisher = Venture village | date = 2012-07-25 | url = http://venturevillage.eu/Gestigon-minority-report | access-date = 2016-02-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150511123249/http://venturevillage.eu/gestigon-minority-report | archive-date = 2015-05-11 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Middleware Category:Virtual reality companies Category:Augmented reality Category:Software companies of Germany Category:Companies based in Schleswig-Holstein Category:Gesture recognition Category:Software companies established in 2011 Category:Companies based in Sunnyvale, California Category:German companies established in 2011