Apple has announced that the company has acquired a U.K.-based started called IKinema that is using motion capture for real-time video production. Financial details of the deals haven’t been disclosed.
Founded in 2010 by former Surrey Space Centre researcher Alex Pechev, iKinema specializes in software for motion capture, games, and VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality). The company has developed a motion capture technology that can transform video footage of people and their movements into animated characters.
IKinema RunTime middleware and LiveAction, a real-time mocap solving solution for Unreal Engine, its IKinema Action plugin was available for Maya and MotionBuilder. The company’s website, which is now defunct, reveals an impressive list of clients and partners. These partners include Microsoft, Tencent, Intel and NVIDIA, and Disney. iKinema also has well-known video game developers Sony, Valve, Epic Games, and Square Enix among its clientele.
IKinema’s technology is relevant to Apple's AR as The iPhone maker has been embracing face motion capture for augmented reality with its animated Memoji characters
IKinema’s tech could also be used to to produce content for its still-unannounced augmented reality (AR) glasses. Apple has been working on an AR device for years, and is expected to unveil it as early as next year.
In 2015, Apple acquired Faceshift then discontinuing its faceshift Studio system.
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