For instance, say you're strolling through a San Francisco district in search of an apartment for rent. You turn on the camera, hold up your tablet (or phone), and pan slowly through the neighborhood.

Not many people will be using this device as their primary shooter because cell phones have a comparable camera and are much easier to use.

Harris, an American firm with expertise in video communications, is working on an app that allows a tablet computer remotely to control a camera on a drone.