iPhone Attachment Captures Panoramic Video

A New York-based company has developed an iPhone lens attachment that turns video shot by the smartphone into panoramic footage.

"It captures 360-degree video and then lets you share that video online," said Jeff Glasse, founder and chief executive of Kogeto.

"You're capturing everyone in the room -- 360 degrees," said Glasse, while demonstrating the $79 device called the "Dot" at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. "And then with one click you can upload that to Facebook, Twitter, wherever you want to share it."

The Dot resembles a shot glass or a magnifying loupe such as those used by jewelers or photographers, only slightly smaller.

It clips on to an iPhone, aligning with the lens of the smartphone's camera, and transforms the footage into a 360-degree panoramic image.

Kogeto began shipping the Dot for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S in October. The device will go on sale in Europe in February and will be featured in Apple stores across the United States in two weeks.

A version of Dot for the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone will be available in the first half of this year with more Android models to come.

"We're bringing this to the consumer market so we can be the plumbing for panoramic video," Glasse said. "I believe wholeheartedly in panoramic video. I believe it's transformative."

Funding for the Dot was raised through Kickstarter, a website which collects donations for creative projects.

Kogeto sought $20,000 but received $120,500 from more than 1,000 donors.