Trillions of dollars are poured into new technology every year by the world’s biggest businesses. Why? Because CEOs see the value that cutting-edge advances can bring to their workflows and the world.
Among the many types of technology that are receiving attention from investors, 3D scanning technology seems to be leading the pack. Since its mainstream introduction about a decade ago, the popularity of 3D scanning skyrocketed alongside its many applications.
If you’re not sure what the relevance of 3D scanning is to society, keep reading. In this post, we share 9 uses for the technology that are helping to evolve industries.
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Creation of Art
A growing number of artists are adopting 3D scanning technology and implementing it into their workflows.
Imagine seeing a beautiful fountain and being able to scan it into your computer so you could then make modifications to it to create something new. For example, your own wild world!
Artists are doing exactly that which is making sampling existing elements from the world and re-imagining them easier than ever.
Video Game Design
As more video games receive blockbuster budgets, game creators are increasingly relying on motion capture to take in real actor’s performances and put them into cut scenes.
These motion capture devices are essentially large 3D scanners that render actor’s movements into animation applications where they can be touched up and finished.
Hit games like The Last of Us and other action-adventure games use 3D scanning technology to great effect when crafting its cinematics.
And of course, 3D scanning is used in VR-based games that are becoming more and more popular among other apps based on virtual reality.
Preservation of Artifacts
The world is filled with stunning statues, tombs, pots, and other pieces with social and anthropological significance.
Ensuring that these artifacts are preserved so they can be learned from for generations is of paramount importance to academia which is why 3D scanning technology has become so important to those efforts.
3D scanners enable preservationists to capture an ancient piece’s nuances so there is forever a point of reference if a piece needs to be touched up or needs to be replaced with a replica after incurring severe damage.
Medical Science
3D scanning technology has enabled doctors to better assess and help their patients.
For example, some doctors use 3D scanners to accurately capture models of their patient’s bodies, which they can then assess without patients needing to be present, saving them time.
Furthermore, when it comes to prosthetic, many teams are leveraging scanners to provide people in third world countries with cost-effective limbs to improve mobility.
Crime Scene Analysis
Time is of the utmost importance when it comes to assessing a crime scene.
Unfortunately, limits on time make it so forensic scientists may not be able to capture all details associated with a crime before the area needs to be cleaned up.
Armed with 3D scanning technology though, scientists can build models of the scene that they can reference for the entirety of their case. That benefit means that crime professionals are better equipped to bring criminals to justice.
Movie Production
Much like video game production, movie production uses 3D scanning technology to achieve effects.
For example, 3D scanners were used in conjunction with other technology to impose Carrie Fischer and Paul Walker’s faces onto other actors when their deaths disabled them from finishing their respective movies (Star Wars, The Fast and the Furious).
Scanners were also used to create the illusion of the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network.
Manufacturing
Whether it’s for prototyping products or it’s for creating merchandise that’s ready for sale, 3D scanning gets used to great effect in manufacturing. Gone are the days where inventors have had to engage prototyping firms.
Today, small creators can scan inspiration around them. From there, they can make tweaks in 3D design software and print up products with minimal design or building experience.
Engineering
Erecting buildings is a costly process that requires a lot of planning to get right. It has long been part of that planning phase to create mock-ups of builds which can get scrutinized for aesthetic and structural purposes.
Costs associated with building engineering mock-ups are notoriously costly.
This is particularly true because many drafts are gone through before arriving at a final design. 3D scanning technology has helped design firms more easily create elements associated with mock-ups by scanning them from existing architecture.
This workflow has helped save all parties involved time and money.
Quality Analysis
3D scanning is making products more reliable by being integrated into distribution workflows.
Several companies have scanners set up that scan products as they move through conveyor belts. These scanners are able to identify flaws before products make it to market.
Scanners are also getting used to inspect the inside of boxes that are being shipped. This scan can ensure that a box’s contents get filled properly, reducing the risk of someone receiving packages with missing items.
Did You Know 3D Scanning Technology Is Evolving Every Year?
One of the most exciting things about 3D scanning technology is that despite its many applications with some that may seem obvious, it’s still in its infancy.
We’ll continue to analyze and expect great things from 3D scanners. I hope that this post has inspired you to join us in monitoring the technology as it grows.
Chances are, doing so could benefit you or your business today or at some point in the very near future.
We love tech and enjoy sharing everything we discover in the space on our blog. If you liked this write-up, consider reading more of our technology content today. You’ll be glad you did!
