App for That!

Here are some rendered or stereo 3D apps that are turning heads:

• 3D Cell World. Enter the mysterious world of the cell. Travel through translucent blue cytoplasm and feel the hypnotic movement of the cell walls. Discover the details of each element of the cell by navigating in game-like fashion to the Nucleus, Mitochondria, Ribosomes, and more. Become immersed in this amazing microcosm of nature and click to explore how this stunning and miraculous powerhouse generates energy for the entire human body.  (This app runs on your computer as well as an android device) http://view-university.com/apps/cellworld/ and http://view-university.com/apps/cellworld/CellWorld_Web.html

• Molecular Magic. Molecules, a free app for the iPad and iPhone, lets students view rendered 3D models of molecules and manipulate them using their fingers. Students can rotate the molecules by moving their finger across the display, zoom in or out by using two-finger pinch gestures or pan the molecule by moving two fingers across the screen at once. Students can view the structures in both ball-and-stick and space-filling visualization modes. They can also download new molecules from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics’ (RCSB) Protein Data Bank or the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) PubChem. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/molecules/id284943090

• ZCOOLY 3D math apps. Offered at  http://www.zcooly.se/

• Structure Sensor. Essentially a 3D scanner for mobile devices, Sensor attaches to your mobile device and effectively works to create a 3D image of anything you can view through the device’s camera. See http://structure.io/

Whoosh (2)

Continuing from my thoughts from last week’s post, Whoosh3D has slowly been earning steady yet quiet props in building up for a planned U.S. rollout:

• In early March, Whoosh3D was featured in a NewsWatch television show
• In mid-March, they were nominated at the Most Innovative Technology Company in Asia by PhilDev at the Shangrila EDSA in Manila
• In late March, they were a lead story, named an “Innovation Product”, and received the Mac Observer Editors’Choice Award at MacWorld
• In November, they were selected at the IAAPA 2014 trade show as winners of the Brass Ring Award for Best New Product in the category of Technology Applied to Amusements. (They exhibited in a unique 3D photo booth, capturing, printing, and sharing customer photos in 3D with social networks, including their own app.)

Simon Gemayel, the founder of 3DMe, explains their journey in this way: “We have been involved in 3D software technology since 2000, offering a proprietary 3D software and lenticular technology that was initially launched as a desktop application for converting any image into 3D instantly using conventional single lens camera with standard PC. hardware.” He continues: “Our software allows on the spot 3D photo printing, glasses-free, using off the shelf printers.” But this was not enough for Gemayel’s innovative group. “We envision that mobility and 3D technology will ultimately converge.  People from all ages, from different cultures across the globe now all share a common denominator, that of photo and video sharing, and personalizing content.” Of course, the recent explosion of social networking apps for smart phones and tablets supports his notions.

An App for That

Building on their proprietary technology, 3DMe has now created a 3D mobile app, “Whoosh3D”.  This 3D app can convert photos, videos, and movies; it can also be used to share, personalize, and print in 3D, in real-time, using conventional smart phones and tablets.  And, of course, it does this with and glasses-free 3D. According to Gemayel, the Whoosh3D app is initially being launched as a 3D player and 2D-3D video converter.  He adds: “We are currently developing other features, such as augmented reality, 2D-3D photo conversion, social networking/chat, filters, and apps to read medical and engineering files in various 3D formats.”  Although initially launched as an entertainment app, the Whoosh 3D is being aimed at a full ecosystem of market segments:  education, video gaming, manufacturing, printing, medicine, and more (see chart above).