Many game and software projects in the site crowdfunding platform Kickstarter tack on support for mobile platforms only after reaching a certain amount of funds, and Sixense is definitely no different. The group has promised to bring in Android and iOS support to their motion tracking system if the amount of pledges reaches $700,000, almost three times the original campaign goal.
Sixense brought the STEM System motion tracking system to Kickstarter two weeks ago and reached its initial $250,000 target within just four hours. The STEM System is made up of five wireless motion tracking modules that can be used to track any part of the body such as hands, feet, and the head. The STEM system is Sixense’ attempt to bring to consumers the technology that has so far been limited to a niche market.
Part of the campaign is a software development kit that will enable game or software developers to utilize the STEM System, adding real-time motion tracking capabilities to their apps. With this new stretch goal, Sixense will be adding direct support for Android and iOS and updating the SDK to support various mobile platforms, including Android version 3.2 Honeycomb and higher. With this, devices such as smartphones and tablets can be used as virtual reality displays or virtual cameras to be integrated inside the game or app. Sixense demonstrates a prototype implementation in the video below.
Of course, it would have been nice if Android support was included from the beginning but, considering production budget constraints, we can’t really complain much. The Kickstarter campaign is still a few hundred thousand dollars short of reaching that Android stretch goal but there’s still 16 days to go, so the feature is likely to make it in the end.
SOURCE: Sixense
