respondesign and Softkinetic Partner to Develop 3D Gesture Recognition Fitness Experiences

Pioneer Developer of the Yourself!Fitness Video Game Series Utilizes Softkinetic’s Groundbreaking Controller-free, Full-body-tracking iisuTM Technology

BRUSSELS, Belgium – March 3, 2010 – Softkinetic, the leading 3D gesture recognition solutions provider, and respondesign, the Portland-based developer of digital fitness games, today announced a partnership to combine Softkinetic’s 3D gesture recognition middleware iisu™ with respondesign’s training engine to develop next generation, 3D gesture-based immersive fitness applications.

Since 2007, Softkinetic has revolutionized the way people interact with digital content by removing the need for a controller and allowing them to command experiences with their body movements through advanced 3D imaging technologies. Softkinetic’s solutions enable new methods of digital interaction and the fitness market is poised to take full advantage of the technology.

“The iisu platform, with the use of a 3D depth sensor, allows the tracking of people’s movement in real time and in full 3D, without any controllers or boards,” said Eric Krzeslo, chief strategy officer at Softkinetic. “We believe that this technology can finally introduce much-needed innovation to the fitness market; our partnership with responDesign is evidence that we’re moving in the right direction.”

Since the introduction of Maya, the world’s first digital fitness trainer, in 2005, respondesign has delivered innovations responsible for transforming the lives of consumers worldwide through game consoles, PCs and other home entertainment platforms.

“Our groundbreaking title Yourself!Fitness paved the way for the entire fitness gaming category. The titles My Fitness Coach and Your Shape with Jenny McCarthy, co-developed with Ubisoft, have brought serious fitness to millions of consumers on the Wii,” said Ted Spooner, chief executive officer at respondesign. “With the controller-free, 3D camera technology from Softkinetic, our personal trainer Maya can sense your every move, and we believe that this breakthrough creates an entirely new platform for health and fitness lifestyle management.”

An advance preview of this 3D gesture-based fitness lifestyle solution will be shown for the first time behind closed doors at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, March 11–13. For business meetings, please contact Softkinetic to make an appointment at info@softkinetic.net. For media appointments, please contact Ben Karl at TriplePoint: ben@triplepointpr.com.


About Softkinetic
Softkinetic 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 3D real-time gesture recognition middleware to interactive digital entertainment, consumer electronics, and serious games companies. Softkinetic, iisu and Interface Is You are trademarks or registered trademarks of Softkinetic S.A. http://www.softkinetic.net


About respondesign, Inc.
Established in 2004 respondesign, Inc. is the digital lifestyle company that created Maya, the world’s first digital fitness trainer. respondesign’s unique fitness engine technology combines knowledge of established sports science with user insight gathered during development and support of Yourself!Fitness and My Fitness Coach. Today, responDesign continues its commitment to deliver the benefits of its fitness engine across multiple delivery platforms bettering user’s lives around the world. http://www.respondesign.com