Chapter 5. Rendering of Point Cloud Data for 3D Range-sensing Cameras
In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:
- Getting started with the Microsoft Kinect (PrimeSense) 3D range-sensing camera
- Capturing raw data from depth-sensing cameras
- OpenGL point cloud rendering with texture mapping and overlays
Introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the techniques to visualize another interesting and emerging class of data: depth information from 3D range-sensing cameras. Devices with 3D depth sensors are hitting the market everyday, and companies such as Intel, Microsoft, SoftKinetic, PMD, Structure Sensor, and Meta (wearable Augmented Reality eyeglasses) are all using these novel 3D sensing devices to track user inputs, such as hand gestures for interaction and/or tracking a user's environment. An interesting integration of 3D sensors with OpenGL is the ability to look at a scene in 3D from different perspectives, thereby enabling a virtual 3D fly-through of...