Apple's move into 3D sensors has intriguing possibilities

Apple just bought itself a 3D sensor company, a move that has some intriguing possibilities. This past weekend, Apple confirmed its acquisition of PrimeSense, an Israel-based company best known for its work on the original Microsoft Kinect, a gaming accessory that lets you control on-screen action by moving your body. "I think it's very big news," says David Fleet, a computer science professor at the University of Toronto. Fleet studies machine vision systems and cites the success of the Kinect as a "big win," adding "I think many more applications are on the horizon." PrimeSense's 3D sensing system uses an infrared emitter to shoot out beams of invisible infrared light.