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Scientist Creates 3D Scanner App For iPhone

Posted by timothy on from the end-platen-nudity dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A research scientist at Georgia Tech has created a 3D scanner app for the iPhone which uses the phone's screen as a light source to quickly capture digital 3D models of faces and other objects. The app, called Trimensional, can output directly to a 3D printer to make physical copies of objects, which a few people have already tried. An Android version is in the works."

3 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Accuracy ? Poor at best. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There's a reason lasers are used to perform 3D scans.

    The iPhone screen is not a point source of light.

    Good luck making any parts which are more than crude attempts
    at copies.

  2. Story Summary Omits Fact That It Barely Works by WarpedCore · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm kind of leaning on the idea that the "anonymous reader" that submitted the article might be the author of the software.

    The software barely works. You need to lock yourself in a pitch black room for the thing to even remotely register the geometry correctly. Anywhere with any hint of light other than from your iOS device screen totally throws it off. Put your money into a more worthwhile 99 cent investment/scientific achievement... Fat Booth.

    1. Re:Story Summary Omits Fact That It Barely Works by cloudmaster · · Score: 1, Insightful

      $4000? The cheapest one I found is $11 with free Prime shipping on Amazon. Heck, a Sony Bloggie is like $250, and it shoots 3D *video*. I'd wager that the quality is at least on-par with some craptacular software for a fanboy cellphone. :)

      Yes, I know this is different. I don't care.