Now, as we think about the next breakthroughs in design, it’s key to understand that the future doesn’t end with software. With the rise of the tablet and the proliferation of 3D printing, plenty of great machines are able to speed up modeling and even turn conceptual plans into tangible models within a matter of minutes. But, what if you could analyze the shape and spacial relations of a model before it ever goes into prototype manufacturing?
That’s the user experience that Infinite Z, a Mountain View, Calif.-based hardware startup, is attempting to achieve with its first product, zSpace. The name’s play on words — hinting at the Z plane, the mathematical representation of the third dimension — also serves as a tidy explanation of what the gadget can do: project 3D, holographic, interactive software that moves and responds to the user’s movements.
“Something happens when you sit down in front of this thing,” says Infinite Z CEO Paul Kellenberger. “And it’s a result of all of these different elements coming together to create a cohesive virtual experience.”
The zSpace sounds like a sci-fi gadget, but it’s already on sale by request and is on the precipice of hitting the consumer market.
How it Works
From a hardware standpoint, zSpace doesn’t look too different from a regular computer display when it’s powered off — sort of like an oversized tablet. The system is able to work exactly like a monitor as well, meaning that Infinite Z is smart enough to distinguish between a 3D-programmed experience and regular software. But once it begins projecting software that takes advantage of the system’s SDK, stereoscopic images behave as 3D images through the company’s proprietary glasses. VP of R&D Dave Chavez says that the system relies on passive 3D, meaning that the 3D glasses not only remain lightweight but have a lesser risk of causing headaches from prolonged use.
“The development of super-light glasses without active shutters on the eyes was to ensure comfort,” Kellenberger says. “The smoothness and accuracy system is also a big part of that, as well as a system that has a design objective to make it all comfortable.”
In addition to the display, cameras embedded within Infinite Z are trained to track special indicators on the 3D glasses in use. In short, this means that as the user moves, the display shifts to reconcile the new perspective. Looking down will cause the plane to raise, while leaning and turning will tilt the view for an “around the back” perspective. The result is a fully realized plane that a user can treat as a tangible space.
“The tracking is critical to enjoying the zSpace experience. Any hiccups or inaccuracies can conflict what you want to experience,” Chavez says. “For you to believe it, we need to know very precisely where your eyes are positioned and where the stylus is positioned — all with real-time rendering to match.”
The user is able to control the space rendered by zSpace via a stylus, which has an extended pointer within the software. Using the stylus, a user can “pick up” an object and place it anywhere within the plane. Also, there’s functionality for a user to zoom in on a particular object and even tilt and turn it.
The result is a seamless user experience that treats 3D as a usable plane for creativity. There’s a potential for a user to create an object — be it a building, car or even a medical device — within the space and then check it for its efficiency, quality and scalability. Perhaps even more importantly, zSpace could possibly render prototype manufacturing obsolete.
“One way to look at it is that with a 2D screen, it’s just a representation of the way we work,” Chavez explains. “But you get depth with zSpace and you get the benefits: things can float and change scale. With that backdrop, you get an increase in spatial cognition.”
How It’s Used
In practical applications of zSpace, the company has developed partnerships with active players in the CAD/CAM/CAE industry, including Dassault Systemes — a CAD software and solutions company that specializes in industrial and infrastructure design. These partnerships, Kellenberger says, have helped zSpace meet the needs of designers who see the potential in a 3D workspace.
“Our primary focus, today and for the next year, is getting applications on zSpace,” Kellenberger explains. “And on meeting the needs of many communities, including CAD/CAM software.”
During a demo, two interesting scenarios were presented that open up the possibilities of zSpace as a leading infrastructure design tool. One, a fully modeled and rendered 3D engine, was able to be picked apart and examined thoroughly with an ease that can’t be found in traditional 3D design software. The second, fittingly, was a scaled model of a city — a digital version of an architect’s model. The latter, of course hinted at another functionality Infinite Z tucked into its product: sharing and coworking across workspaces.
“We can have multiple people viewing the system so the rendering looks the same, but you can look at the representation the way you want to look at it,” Chavez says. “So, you can focus on filters or parts or looking inside from one perspective and I can look at it from another, even though it’s the same rendering.”
While zSpace doesn’t have the benefit of having announced its public product offerings, the system’s inner workings are a huge promise. And, though Infinite Z is just a hardware company, it will be exciting to see how developers use 3D features in design.
The Future of Design Architecture
The implementation of 3D holographic devices, not just for the professional sphere but also in our everyday lives, is one that is still in the process of solidifying.
“We don’t even know yet what’s going to be the biggest opportunity or the biggest market yet,” Kellenberger says.
Still, there’s amazing innovation happening in the field, and we may see zSpace aiding the revitalization of our buildings, vehicles, and a whole host of other things. Then, we can begin to rebuild our world with the perspective of 3D.
Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/26/zspace/
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