Qualcomm Spectra brings 3D depth sensing to Android devices
(Digital Photography Review)

Qualcomm launched the Clear Sight dual-camera system which was powered by its Spectra ISP and used a combination of RGB and monochrome images sensors in 2016. Today the company announced the second generation Spectra Module that introduces 3D computer vision to Qualcomm-powered Android devices. The Qualcomm system is a dual-camera setup that is capable of sensing depth and motion in real time. In a smartphone`s rear camera this technology could be used in apps to track motion and measuring subject distance which could help improve simulated shallow depth-of-field effects. In a front camera the Qualcomm system could help improve biometric security through iris scanning or 3D facial recognition. One of the technology`s advantages is the capability to capture and process image data in real time using off-the-shelf parts, unlike Google`s Tango project that relies on specialized hardware. Qualcomm hasn`t yet announced any manufacturing partners yet but given the popularity of the Qualcomm platform it`s arguably only a matter of time before we`ll see the technology pop up in the first Android devices. Press Release: {PressRelease} Qualcomm First to Announce Depth-Sensing Camera Technology Designed For Android Ecosystem - Unveils next-generation Qualcomm Spectra ISP for computer vision, extended reality and computational photography technologies- SAN DIEGO - August 15, 2017 - Today Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM), through its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies Inc., announced an expansion to the Qualcomm® SpectraTM Module Program, capable of improved biometric authentication and high-resolution depth sensing, designed to meet growing demands of photo and video for a broad range of mobile devices and head mounted displays (HMD). This module program is built on the cutting-edge technology behind the Qualcomm® SpectraTM embedded image signal processors (ISP) family. Engineered by Qualcomm Technologies from the ground up, Qualcomm Spectra ...