Startup Looks to Bring Kinect-Like Camera to the iPad (Video)

Occipital, a company best known for an app that lets users take panoramic photos from their phone, is looking to get into hardware.

On Tuesday, Occipital is announcing plans for Structure Sensor, a 3-D camera that brings Kinect-style depth sensing abilities to the iPad and other mobile devices. Attaching such a camera to a phone or tablet paves the way for use in other contexts, including object scanning and augmented reality.

Although Occipital is showing off the sensor on Tuesday, it won't be ready for mainstream consumers until sometime in the middle of next year. The company is launching the product first for developers who order the device on Kickstarter. Doing so, said Occipital CEO Jeff Powers, will get the device into production quicker.

"We really wanted to get feedback from the world," Powers told AllThingsD. "We wanted to also be the first to do this. There's something about being the first to bring the sensor."

Getting a consumer-ready product with three or four fully functioning apps would have meant waiting another year or more. Kickstarter backers willing to pay $500 for a developer kit will get a hand-assembled beta version by this December, while those who pay $349 can get a developer unit around February.

The Structure Sensor is designed to fit directly onto an iPad to link up with its camera, but uses Bluetooth so it could be connected with other phones and tablets. Backers who pay $349 get to choose either an iPad or non-iPad version, while those paying $379 or more will get both attachment options.

The hope is that the developers will not only serve as early enthusiast customers, but also help create the killer apps that will make the Structure Sensor worth it for consumers.

Occipital, which managed to cram PrimeSense's full-size sensor into a mobile device, is likely to face significant competition in the market for mobile-compatible 3-D cameras. Intel talked at last week's developer conference about including 3-D cameras into future Ultrabooks, while imaging-sensor maker PrimeSense has its own Capri sensor that is designed to go into smaller devices.

Powers said that Occipital knows it is a small company likely to bump up against bigger competitors. But he said being small offers some advantages, too.

"We don't have to sell five million of these devices to succeed," Powers said.

Here's a video of the Structure Sensor in action:

Cool Accessory Transforms your iPad into a 3D Scanner

There is an in-progress Kickstarter campaign which is building a 3D sensing device. While it probably wont be at the level of established non-mobile 3D scanners, the fact that it attaches to your iPad is pretty amazing.

As someone who is involved in the music and film industries, I can see a lot possibilities. Here are a few that I came up with immediately:

1. Location scouting for films - quick 3D models of places
2. Record keeping of microphone placement in recording studios
3. 3D representation of artwork

The device uses dual infrared LEDs to scan its surroundings, which allows functionality in both light and darkness. Its range is 40 centimeters to over 3.5 meters which limits any macro functionality but is useful for objects and medium sized rooms. The sensor comes in an anodized aluminum case which is compatible with Lightening connector equipped iOS devices. It is also operates on its own battery power with 4 hours of scanning and no drain on your iPad.

In addition to scanning for 3D images, it is also being used for augmented reality games. One already in development game includes a ball that bounces off of the objects around you. Since the game can access a 3D model of the area, it can create complex interactions with the virtual and physical areas. This seems like the kind of idea that Apple will eventually include in their devices and has the potential to make gaming and other tasks extremely powerful.

The Kickstarter campaign is seeking $100,000 and is currently 50% funded with a deadline of November 1st. For a pledge of $349 you will receive a finished scanner. I am very tempted!