RealSense Technology

Intel is marketing what they call RealSense Technology.  What is that?  We are going to dig into that a bit with this post.  Did you ever see Minority Report?  There is a scene in which Tom Cruise’s character is manipulating his computer by just moving his hands around.  That is very like what RealSense can do.  Per their website "Intel® RealSense™ technology uses various sensing technologies to achieve depth perception, 3D imaging, interior mapping, and feature tracking. From virtual reality to robotic development, 3D creation to consumption, Intel® RealSense™ usage leads the industry and offers endless creativity and freedom."  So, what does all of that mean?  How can you use it?  In his article "Intel RealSense 3D: What is it and What do you do with it?" through tomsguide.com Avram Piltch helps to tell us just that.  Piltch gives the following uses for RealSense:

1.  Realistic Avatars:  cameras scan images, such as a face, and creates an avatar on the computer

2.  3D scanning for a 3D printout: camera scans an object and then can print out the same object in 3D form.

3.  Green Screening without a screen:  camera captures and image and then can place that image into another screen.

4.  Measure distance in pictures:  Can take size of objects in objects and figure their sizes and then in turn can use those sizes to measure other objects in the picture. 

5.  Photo layering editing and focusing:  Can manipulate photos by focusing or fading out selected areas of picture.

6.  Holographic navigation:  this one is a little harder to explain but basically it is a navigation bar that is not there, the computer, the RealSense, shows a hologram of a navigation board and it reads your movements.  

7.  Accurate Gesture Control:  the camera accurately reads your gestures no matter what the background or surroundings are.  

8.  Gaming with your body:  the game reads your body movements and uses those movements to control the game.

9.  3D gaming with Oculus:  adds hand recognition to Oculus Virtual Reality headset

10.  Object Avoidance:  RealSense cameras can be attached to things such as drones to allow them to avoid objects as they fly.  It's the same type of technology being used in cars to do park assist, lane control, etc. 

Piltch offers some videos on how some of these RealSense technologies work at http://www.tomsguide.com/us/intel-realsense-guide,news-20286.html.  

RealSense also allows for collaboration on projects.  Objects can be created in a 3D field and moved to fit into other models.  Groups member’s images can be on the screen as they work together on projects even when they are not at the same place.  There's a great example of this in the following video.