3D Scanning Is Changing the Way We Shop

In just a few years, 3D cameras have made massive strides in sophistication while becoming ever more affordable and accessible. The implications for commerce are boundless, as 3D printers offer the means to create highly customized items on the cheap. It also gives online merchants new ways to display their wares, as 3D models can be scanned and uploaded to their websites, affording shoppers a more tactile and interactive experience. In another five years, it's possible—perhaps inevitable—that high fidelity, 3D cameras will be in our phones, yet another step towards their full integration in our day-to-day lives.

Motherboard spoke with Konstantin Popov, an Intel® Innovator and CEO of Cappasity Inc., about the remarkable evolution and awesome potential of this technology. With over 10 years of experience using 3D tech in game development, he's recently focused on designing software to leverage the capabilities of Intel® RealSense™ cameras. He sees a tremendous opportunity in the burgeoning e-commerce revolution. Few people better understand what shopping will look like in the future, so we asked him for a peek.

MB: Can you tell me a bit about your background, and how Cappasity got started?

KP: Our original team was from Moscow. We established Cappasity Inc. directly in the US, since here we found an existing, ideal ecosystem for the development of new 3D technologies. Since the majority of our current partners have their offices in the Valley, we chose Santa Clara for our headquarters.

I have been working on games since 2005. We started our business with PC game development, and then we entered consoles and mobile devices. At the same time, we were working on our own game development engine and utilities for virtual worlds creation.

When working on one of our gaming projects, we decided to try 3D scanning technology to help us reduce the production costs and time spent on development of 3D models. We found that the existing solutions were expensive and came up with the idea of offering high-quality 3D scanning solutions that would be much more affordable. And so at the end of 2013, we founded Cappasity. After many months of R&D, we saw some prospective opportunities and decided to focus exclusively on the development of scanning technology and related products.

MB: Tell me about the scanning technology you've developed recently.

KP: Easy 3D Scan software lets users scan objects and people using an Intel® RealSense™ camera and export those models for 3D printing for use in 3D modeling programs, and for integration in games and applications. There are two ways of scanning: manual and on a turntable. The manual mode is when the user is moving around an object or person while holding the device, as when shooting a video. The turntable mode is amazingly simple: buy a Lazy Susan, put the object on it, and you have an object rotating in front of your camera. When the turntable has made a full circle, you have a 3D model.

Users also get access to the Cappasity Cloud service, allowing them to share the models on social networks and websites. Sharing on websites is especially important for our business clients who want to use 3D scanning technologies in e-commerce. Shoppers on their websites cannot only see pictures of the products, but their full 3D models as well. It will make the online shopping experience much more exciting and immersive, because you can rotate the 3D models and interact with them. Studies show that this increases conversion rates, thanks to additional interactive information about the merchandise.

Soon Easy 3D Scan will be able to load the models the user has created onto VR devices. You can scan an object using Intel®'s RealSense™ laptop, upload it to the Cappasity Cloud, and watch it on Samsung Gear VR and other VR devices.

Recently we completed the integration of a 3D-selfie mode into the program. Using a laptop with Intel® RealSense™ technology, users can digitize themselves, and print the image out on a 3D printer or share with friends.

We made an effort to make our software very accessible, fitting the name "Easy 3D Scan". We maximized the simplicity of the scanning process, to make it understandable to a regular user without prior training. And each mode has a step-by-step tutorial.

MB: How long have you been working with Intel® RealSense™ cameras in general?

KP: We began working with Intel® RealSense™ cameras in 2014. The first time we showcased our 3D scanning solutions was at CES 2015.

MB: Projecting five years down the road, what do you think we'll be able to do with this kind of technology that we can't do now? Is there a particular challenge with 3D scanning or printing that we just haven't quite solved yet?

KP: We are keeping pace with the principal trend in 3D technologies: the digitalization of the world around us, with the purpose of its further virtualization. A couple of years ago 3D scanning could only be used by large companies. Now, we are making these software solutions accessible to small businesses as well. A couple of years ago a 3D scanner would cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Now, even a college student in need of 3D modeling for a design project can afford to begin using the 3D scanning. All of this is possible thanks to the development of new technologies, including accessible cameras such as Intel®'s RealSense™. Intel has pioneered these developments. No one before has built these into laptops and tablets.

If we look at 3D printing, I think that the current generation of printers is ill-suited for the mass markets. The printing of 3D objects still requires certain skills, while ideally it should be as simple as printing out a document on a regular printer. Also, 3D printers are still too slow, while color printing is for now reserved for professionals who can afford the high cost. The development of 3D printing is impossible without the development of 3D scanning.

I am certain that the next phase will be active 3D cameras built into mobile phones. Currently, there are some problems standing in the way, such as the phone CPU/GPU power, battery life, and the resolution of phone 3D cameras, but it is only a matter of time until anyone can digitize their environment using a device they use on a daily basis.

You may remember the time when the first web cameras were something special. Nowadays, no one gives Skype meetings or video broadcasting a second thought. The same future can be expected for 3D cameras. The first 3D-selfie is as close as ever.

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