Sep 19, 2014 | Alec
We've already known that Intel has been working on 3D camera's and scanners for some time. At the beginning of the year, they revealed a partnership with 3D Systems that aimed to expand and improve Intel's RealSense technology throughout 2014. And at this week's MakerCon 2014, that is being held in New York, Intel CEO Brain Krzanich revealed to the crowd that 3D scanners working on RealSense will be incorporated in their tablets in 2015. He even went as far as to speculate on the inclusion of this technology in smartphones in the years that follow.
This exciting announcement could really affect the availability and accessibility of 3D printing technology. We already knew RealSense could be used for 3D scanning. It has the ability to detect finger level movements and facial features, which enables highly accurate gesture and emotional recognition. RealSense has also shown to be able to understand foregrounds and backgrounds, making it an excellent tool for 3D printing enthusiasts.
As Intel themselves put it, 'you can scan, modify, print, and share in 3D, giving you a creative platform like you've never seen. What's more, you'll be able to naturally manipulate and play with scanned 3D objects using our hand- and finger-sensing technology.'
Image credit: Gizmag
The guys behind Intel had already announced that they would be including their RealSense 3D camera in a variety of their products – particularly laptops –throughout 2014, but it's exciting to hear that this technology will be very portable as well. As Krzanich said in New York, 'Our goal is to just have a tablet that you can go out and buy that has this capability. Eventually within two or three years I want to be able to put it on a phone.'
Image credit: Gizmag
And it also looks like it will be very user-friendly. Krzanich and his Intel crew gave a short demonstration that hinted at the technology's easy usage. An on-stage model was brought on stage, who was then scanned by an Intel assistant. Rather than using sophisticated hardware or dozens of camera shots, the assistant simply circled the model a few times while aiming a tablet at her . Within minutes, a 3D rendering of the model became visible on screen.
'The idea is you go out, you see something you like and you just capture it,' Krzanich explained. The generated RealSense files can then be easily manipulated through Intel's software, or even immediately printed. Sadly, little was said about the printing possibilities of this scanning technology, but it looks like they're hinting towards a type of plug-and-print system.
While we will have to wait until the third of fourth quarter of 2015 before these 3D scanning tablets will become available for consumers, this technology is nonetheless very promising. We'll have to wait and see how this affects 3D printing realities, but it could very well make the lives of 3D printing enthusiasts so much easier.
Posted in 3D Scanning
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you could just download the book.taking picturss of ghd pages looks tedious indeed.
uncle_bob wrote at 9/21/2014 1:46:56 PM:
Wow, cool ! Scan and print ! Great for the average joe. Im starting to see how advanced and streamlined these printers can become. It just occurred to me that this probably will cause copyright law adjustments. Can't scan someones art sculpture in museum and go home and print out, just like can't go to book store and take picture of all pages of book and walk out of the store.
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