SEATTLE, WA, Oct 21, 2015 – Orbbec, a designer and manufacturer of 3D technologies, open sourced the complete Orbbec Astra software development kit (SDK) to GitHub. The beta SDK, available at https://orbbec3d.com/develop/, supports Windows and OS X as well as the creative coding framework Processing. Support for Linux and Android, as well as openFrameworks, Unity 3D, and Cinder, will be available in future versions.
Orbbec is committed to openness and a culture of innovation that puts developers and the creative coding community first. With this release to GitHub, Orbbec is providing the tools and technology required to unleash creativity and innovation in 3D application development. This includes:
- the availability of low-cost state-of-the-art hardware; and
- an open development platform.
“This could lead to a new golden age of open source 3D hacking,” said Greg Borenstein, researcher at the MIT Media Lab, futurist consultant for Fox’s Minority Report, and author of Making Things See: 3D vision with Kinect, Processing, Arduino, and MakerBot. “Orbbec puts 3D scanning and body tracking within the reach of designers, students, artists, and creative coders of all types. I can’t wait to use it in my own projects and to see what the community does with it.”
“Orbbec is solving many of the issues that have prevented gesture from becoming a norm for computer interaction,” said Tim Huckaby, chairman, InterKnowlogy & Actus Interactive Software. “I believe Orbbec when they say they are committed to doing 3D right.”
Improving 3D Application Development with State-of-the-Art 3D Hardware
This release follows the launch of a suite of Orbbec 3D hardware earlier this month, including the Astra line of 3D cameras and the unveiling of Persee, the world’s first integrated 3D camera-computer. Interactive artist Kyle McDonald recently said Persee is “everything the Kinect should have been,” adding “it’s Kinect with better depth accuracy, less edge noise, and a proper cross-platform SDK. No complaints.” The devices were launched as part of an Indiegogo campaign, which is nearly 250% funded and runs through October 31, 2015.
“We believe the best way to inspire 3D innovation is to put the tools necessary to build great 3D applications into the hands of as many smart, inventive, creative people as possible,” said Joshua Blake, Orbbec co-founder and vice president of engineering. “By releasing our SDK to GitHub and offering deep discounts on our devices through our Indiegogo campaign we are jumpstarting the development of next generation intelligent computing applications.”
To learn more about Orbbec and support the Indiegogo campaign, visit www.orbbec3d.com.
About Orbbec
Orbbec is dedicated to creating intelligent technologies for every human, everywhere. Achieving this mission requires superb 3D cameras that are affordably priced and universally available. Orbbec was founded in 2013 in Shenzhen, China by recognized leaders in 3D image processing and artificial intelligence to design and manufacture state-of-the-art 3D cameras. With the Astra line of 3D cameras and Persee 3D camera-computer, Orbbec is making intelligent computing a reality for developers and businesses, and affordable and attractive for consumers.
Learn more at www.orbbec3d.com and follow Orbbec on Twitter (@orbbec).
