Silver Lake Sumeru Invests in PrimeSense, a Provider of Gesture-Recognition Tech for TV's and Other CE

PrimeSense--a Tel Aviv-based provider of sensing and recognition solutions, whose technology powers Microsoft Kinect--has received an undisclosed investment from Silver Lake Sumeru (note: Silver Lake Sumeru is a $1.1 billion middle market tech-focused fund managed by Silver Lake, a technology investment company that claims to manage over $14 billion in assets, and whose portfolio includes such companies as Skype and Avago).

PrimeSense bills its flagship proprietary Natural Interaction Technology as enabling 3D mapping and gesture-recognition capabilities in TV's, gaming systems and PC's, thus allowing consumers to operate those devices without a remote control or other handheld device. "PrimeSense has developed game-changing technologies that revolutionize the way consumers interact with living room entertainment and video communication devices," Silver Lake Sumeru managing director, Paul Mercadante (who will now join PrimeSense's board of directors), said in a prepared statement. "The company is the global leader in gesture technology with a talented management team, experienced board, and partnerships with some of the world's premier technology companies. We look forward to working with PrimeSense to realize its significant growth potential."

PrimeSense, which had a modest presence at CES last week, appears to have nevertheless made a strong impression on veteran television-industry analyst, Jack Myers, who wrote on his MediaBizBloggers.com blog that he is "convinced, after seeing PrimeSense in action, that the future of the television operating system is defined and clear. Expect PrimeSense to soon announce a relationship with Intel, which will exponentially accelerate the evolution to a one-screen synchronous, integrated TV + Internet system," his blog post continued. "Turn on the screen and up will pop your favorite apps, free and paid. With its front camera (for Skype), the TV will conduct a brief facial and body recognition process and deliver your personalized app screens. With the slightest movement of your wrist and fingers, you'll scroll through your apps, point to open an app, 'touch' the air in front of you to bring up the TV and online controls. You can easily type on the keyboard and multi-task. Audio recognition built into the TV will identify the programming you're viewing and offer you the option to open officially sanctioned online content. Of course, you'll have full DVR, social engagement, check-in, commerce and other applications, all available seamlessly from your couch with just the flick of a wrist. And you'll constantly receive the opt-in messages entitling sponsors and app-underwriters to information on your behavior, in return for which you'll receive viewing credits, incentives and prizes." (Note: A video of PrimeSense's CES demo, shot by YouTube user orh000, is embedded above.)