Analyst: iPhone 8 to sport ‘revolutionary,’ front-facing camera

In a note to clients — as noted by MacRumors — KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the “iPhone 8” will sport a “revolutionary,” front-facing camera based on technology from PrimeSense, a company Apple bought in 2013. The camera system will consist of three models are enable 3D sensing capabilities, he writes. 

Kuo says the three modules will include the existing front camera module found in current iPhones, an infrared transmitting module, and an infrared receiving module. With these modules, the camera will be able to find the location and depth of objects placed in front of it. Potential applications including facial and iris recognition, as well as games in which a character’s head could be replaced by that of the person playing the game.

PrimeSense’s sensing technology gives digital devices the ability to observe a scene in three dimensions. It was used to help power Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect. It translates these observations into a synchronized image stream (depth and color) — just like humans do. PrimeSense’s technology then takes those synchronized images and translates them into information such as: identification of people their body properties, movements and gestures; classification of objects such as furniture;  and location of walls and floors.