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Metrological, Softkinetic and Optrima Partner to Bring 3D Gesture-Based Applications to Television

Open Platform Enables Media Service Operators to Directly Provide Gesture-Based Video Games and Interactive Applications

BRUSSELS and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – June 21, 2010 – Softkinetic, Optrima and Metrological Media Innovations today announced a partnership to offer set-top-box and television manufacturers an integrated 3D gesture-based solution that will transform home entertainment. In addition, Softkinetic and Optrima technologies will be offered to media service operators as part of Metrological’s Mediaconnect TV system, enabling Metrological to provide their global customer base with 3D gesture-based interfaces, video games and other interactive gesture-based applications.

Softkinetic’s 3D gesture-recognition platform, iisu™, combined with Optrima’s 3D and RGB camera, OptriCam™, deliver a unique and compelling interactive entertainment experience to consumers of all ages. Softkinetic’s patented technology leverages more than seven years of intense development and testing to bring proven solutions in gesture recognition to the marketplace and was commercialized in 2008. It has been highly optimized to consume a minimum of CPU resources, allowing it to integrate seamlessly on set-top-box devices. The OptriCam offers both depth sensing and RGB capabilities and, optionally, voice recognition capabilities, leveraging Optrima’s patented DepthSense™ CMOS technology, providing high-efficiency output at reduced cost.

The Metrological/Softkinetic/Optrima reference development kits will be available for developers in the fall of this year. The kits will allow developers to rapidly develop 3D gesture-based applications and video games with the guarantee that their content is compatible with all Intel-based platforms that use the Metrological Operating System. In addition, since iisu supports all available 3D cameras, developers are assured that their content will work with any iisu-compatible 3D camera.

“Metrological has developed a powerful, highly interactive digital home entertainment solution that enables the delivery and consumption of rich, interactive, high-quality content at home,” said Michel Tombroff, CEO of Softkinetic. “By partnering with Metrological, we can provide 3D gesture-based entertainment content without the need for an expensive, proprietary video game console.”

Mediaconnect TV users across the globe will be able to navigate their TV without a remote control by using natural gestures and can also download gesture-based video games and applications, such as fitness programs. TV viewers will be fully engaged in interactive video applications by combining background replacement and gesture-based interactions. The technology has the power to transform the TV viewing experience, putting users into the picture with bluescreen-style background-replacement and gesture-based interactions.  Softkinetic Studios, the 3D gesture-based development team led by former Microsoft Kinect executive producer Mike Nichols, will also adapt their video game and content portfolio to the Mediaconnect TV platform, providing even more entertainment content for Mediaconnect TV consumers.

Mediaconnect TV, a next-generation hybrid consumer TV entertainment platform based on Intel® CE Media Processing technology and powered by Metrological’s Metroconnect Operating System, currently provides consumers with a wide range of high-value applications and services. By adding 3D gesture-based interfaces to this rich portfolio, the device establishes a complete convergence between TV, entertainment, Internet and video conferencing. By adopting Mediaconnect TV, media service operators can substantially extend their current offering of media entertainment services, all within a single solution.

 “Metrological’s leading software platform combines all of the features of interactive television into a single convenient and easy to use solution,” said Albert Dahan, CTO and
co‐founder of Metrological. “The addition of 3D gesture-recognition capabilities will provide Mediaconnect TV users with the most exciting interactive experience any digital entertainment device currently has to offer. We are excited to partner with Softkinetic and Optrima to make this possible.”

The commercial deployment of Mediaconnect TV begins in Europe in the coming weeks and is expected to begin in North America by fall of this year.

About Softkinetic
Softkinetic SA/NV is the leading provider of natural interfaces that transform the way people interact with the digital world. Softkinetic enables a fully immersive, transparent and intuitive user experience by providing a 3D real-time gesture recognition middleware to interactive digital entertainment, consumer electronics, health care and serious games companies. Softkinetic, iisu, and Interface Is You are trademarks or registered trademarks of Softkinetic S.A. For more information on Softkinetic please visit http://www.softkinetic.net.

About Optrima
Optrima SA/NV is a leader in 3D imaging technology based on “time-of-flight (TOF)”. Optrima hardware solutions include CMOS 3D TOF Imagers, 3D TOF Platforms and 3D TOF Cameras. Optrima has built this hardware utilizing its proprietary and patented technology, DepthSense™ 3D Imaging. Optrima DepthSense™ sensors are ideally suited for building low cost (low bill-of-material) 3D modules and cameras. Optrima delivers hardware solutions to the consumer, PC and video gaming, health/fitness, industrial (automotive, security, automation) markets. Please visit www.optrima.com for more information on Optrima. Optrima, DepthSense and OptriCam are trademarks or registered trademarks of Optrima N.V.

About Metrological
Metrological Group, founded in 2003, is headquartered in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The company focuses on the development and implementation of innovative hardware and software products. Its subsidiary Metrological Media
Innovations specializes in media technology for both the “business to business” and “business to consumer” markets. In 2009, the company introduced Mediaconnect TV, a next generation generic open media platform, based on the Intel® CE Media Processing technology and powered by the Metroconnect Operating System. Metrological enables Media Services Operators, content providers, equipment manufacturers and retailers to deliver branded tailor-made over-the-top home entertainment media services, by offering a white labeled end-to-end media platform, based on standard TV Widget technology. To lean more about Metrological’s products please visit www.metrological.com