There are numerous consumer electronics applications that can benefit greatly from the use of computationally cheap, three-dimensional vision. Products such as video communications, security systems, digital signage, air conditioning, touch screens and many others can have their performance and resulting user experience significantly enhanced by utilizing depth information.

The PrimeSensor goal is to provide immersive interaction between the user and the technology, simplifying the interface and making the experience seamless and intuitive. For that purpose, the technology has to be aware of the user, his/her location, gestures and intentions. This is enabled primarily by computer vision. Until today, computer vision was a very expensive component to add to consumer electronic devices, given the intensive computational power required to add a depth measurement for every pixel in the image.

However, with the emergence of a low-cost depth sensor, computer vision has become significantly more accessible and affordable. Simple interaction paradigms previously beyond commercial viability are now readily deployable in the mass consumer electronics market.