With Two Eyes
Global IT companies are eying 3D cameras.
According to industry sources on May 29, GoPro is planning to release a VR camera capable of making 360 degree content at the end of this year, using virtual reality (VR) technology. With six “GoPro Hero” units held together, this product can create one video by piecing together content shot at different angles simultaneously. To do this, the company bought VR software company Kolor in April, and are using Kolor's technology in the camera.
GoPro is also going to work to develop a 360-degree VR camera named Array, in partnership with Google. The 16-camera rig captures 360-degree footage, turning that into a video. The 360-degree content taken by Array is going to be uploaded as a 3D video on YouTube after going through Google's rendering technology.
Previously, Samsung Electronics developed a 360-degree 3D camera that can sync with its first virtual reality headset, Gear VR, in order to realize the Gear VR used for the camera in a much more vivid way. The development of this camera was made public under the name of Project Beyond, and the Korean tech giant is going to make the 360-degree 3D camera connect to the Gear VR for its use. The company plans to produce more diverse VR content, apps, and services based on these products.
Apple also started to develop related technology, as shown by its purchase of a 3D camera maker. The U.S. company bought Israel-based camera maker LinX for US$20 million (21.9 billion won) in April. Founded in 2011, LinX develops and sells small cameras for tablet PCs or smartphones that can create 3D images by measuring depth using sensors capable of reading several images at the same time. Apple is concentrating on 3D images, as witnessed by its acquisition of Israeli motion-sensing company PrimeSense in Nov. 2013.