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July 09, 2014

Matterport Focuses on 3D Technology for Mobile Devices

Matterport, a company that specializes in 3D printing and cameras, is determined to be at the forefront of cutting edge 3D technology. Advancements in Google’s Project Tango came earlier than expected, and the company responded by investing an additional $16 million in their mobile development.

Project Tango is an effort by Google to manufacture mobile devices that are contextually aware of their surroundings, described succinctly by the team as working to give them “human-scale understanding of space and motion.” The device has special 3D cameras developed in coordination with Matterport that can sense the environment and internally project a model with which to work with.

The technology has tremendous implications; there are no shortages of ideas of what amazing capabilities it will bring- yet it is dwarfed by imagining what still lies in the unknown future. On one front, 3D contextual awareness has the power to revolutionize architecture, real estate and interior design; eliminating the need for many of the steps taken to achieve greatness in those fields. There are also opportunities for amazing advances in navigation, accessibility, entertainment, etc.

The devices are in very rough stage at the moment, but with Matterport and other firms alongside Google devoting tons of resources to developing this technology it will careen towards a consumer product release in the near future.

Google recently sent a few of these devices into space, to create a 3D map of the International Space System and test its functionality while exploring the ramifications of working in a zero gravity environment. With this in addition to terrestrial testing and a soon-to-be released developer prototype, Project Tango is well on its way.

Matterport launched its 3D camera product in March of this year, outlining the first steps down the path of 3D scanning. Called the Matterport Pro 3D Camera, it sells for a hefty price of $4,500.





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