Now introducing LazeeEye: this incredible technology upgrades your smartphone for use as a 3D camera, using a laser illuminator hardware add-on and a stereo vision processing app.

LazeeEye? Seriously? The name “LazeeEye” is a portmanteau of “laser” and “eye,” indicating that your phone’s camera (a single “eye”) is being augmented with a second, “laser eye” – thus bestowing depth perception via stereo vision, i.e., letting your smartphone camera see in 3D just like you can!

What is a 3D camera? It is a device that captures the 3D structure of a scene. Most cameras are 2D, meaning they are a projection of the scene onto the camera’s imaging plane; any depth information is lost. However, a 3D camera also captures the depth dimension (in addition to the standard 2D data).

What can you do with a 3D picture?

  • Capture models of objects or people for 3D printing or CAD modeling.
  • Make absolute 3D measurements from the photo – for, construction and remodeling, interior design, clothes shopping, etc.
  • Remove objects or people outside a given depth – eliminate “photo bombers,” remove the background scene from photos, replace the background scene.
  • Change the angle or lighting of the photo after the fact.
  • More easily perform a variety of photo editing (“photo-shopping”) effects, with the aid of the image depth channel.
  • Implement augmented reality games, or play existing augmented reality games.

Much, much more – just search the web to see what people do with 3D sensing, and imagine how these applications could translate to or enhance mobile device apps.

Why should someone get LazeeEye? Because it is simple; because it is cheap. It is an add-on module that can work with any smartphone – all you need is a camera and some processing horsepower (iPhone or Android), and the LazeeEye stereo vision app can form the 3D picture. The size of the module is roughly the size of a a pencil (although our existing prototype is a little larger), and, once mass-produced, is projected to cost less than the current DIY reward level. Sure, we all know 3D camera phones are on the horizon (although none are available yet); but will you be able to get one for even under $500, let alone under $100? This is the kind of price point that truly can bring this technology to *everyone* – which, in turn, can drive a virtuous circle of innovations, applications, and business in the emerging world of 3D mobile.

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