zSpace (company)

zSpace
Private
Industry Virtual and augmented reality
Founded 2007[1][2]
Headquarters Sunnyvale, California
Key people
  • Paul Kellenberger, CEO
  • Mike Harper, CMO
  • Dave Chavez, CTO
Website zspace.com

zSpace is a technology firm based in Sunnyvale, California that creates real world virtual reality systems. zSpace allows people to interact with simulated objects in virtual environments as if they are real.[3][4][5]

zSpace is known for its progressive developments in human-computer interaction.[6] Paul Kellenberger is the company’s current CEO and President.[7]

History

zSpace 200 display with students studying anatomy.

The prototype for the zSpace holographic platform was created with backing from the Central Intelligence Agency’s In-Q-Tel fund, which invests in technology startups.[8] The innovation represented a new approach to problem solving, designing, teaching, and communicating.

zSpace found its place among relatively untapped “geospatial markets” with users who would make use of 3-D manipulation technologies.[3] Although the initial target markets were enterprise and STEM education,[9] prospective clients began to recognize a nearly limitless potential for zSpace applications in any endeavor where 3-D study and interaction would be beneficial.[3][4][5] Gaming developers and consumers also began to take a keen interest in the budding company.[3][5] zSpace soon found its way into a variety of sectors including government, medicine and education.[3][4][5][10]

zSpace has garnered several positive reviews for its “mind-boggling” holographic display.[3][4] Conversely, some critics suggested that zSpace might be cost-prohibitive for the average consumer.[3][4] Company executives publicly stated in April 2013 that they “[expected] the price of the zSpace to fall below $1000 within 18 to 24 months.”[5]

zSpace executives have turned their attention to developing partnerships with “active players” in the VR industry, and made their “primary focus” virtual reality for education and, [to get] applications on zSpace.”[10] In November 2012, zSpace released an independent software development kit.[4]

zSpace was a featured product for NASA's "TechBriefs".[11] In 2012, zSpace was awarded "Best in Show" at the Computer Graphics World Conference.[11] The company also received the Core77 Design Award as "Professional Notable" in Consumer Products.[11] In 2013, zSpace was a finalist in the American Technology Awards in Advanced Manufacturing/Tech Manufacturing.

In 2014, zSpace collaborated with researchers at the University of Tokyo to develop a high speed gesture tracking system. The technology is being used in hospitals by surgeons before procedures.[12][13] The Los Altos School District began a pilot program using zSpace in STEM classrooms.[14][15] The technology is also used at UCSF and Stanford for research and medical education, and was featured by Intel at CES 2014.[16]

zSpace is collaborating with NASA to be tested as interface technology for future robots, using the program to interact with simulated objects in virtual environments using its imaging displays.[17]

Product

zSpace 200 display

At CES 2015, HP announced the HP zVR powered by technology licensed from zSpace. The zSpace system allows for the visualization of data in three dimensions.[10] It consists of three user-responsive components: a stereoscopic display, stylus, and glasses.[5][7] Working together, these components create an “augmented reality” or “immersive realistic interaction” in which data that appears as a “real object” can be viewed, manipulated, analyzed, and shared.[3] The technology could also be used for virtual hands-on training and gaming.[18]

The zSpace system uses a 1920 x 1080 pixel LCD screen, and the hardware switches between the left and right images through a circularly polarized light that enters the eye.[19] The glasses contain small reflective tabs that the computer uses to track where users are looking.[20] This software prevents nausea and headaches by keeping the image focused.[21][22]

References

  1. Wilson, Jeremy (September 16, 2013). "You Won’t Believe The Startups The CIA Has Invested In". The Kernel. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  2. Hickey, Walter (August 11, 2012). "25 Cutting Edge Firms Funded By The CIA". Business Insider. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Knight, Will. "A Display That Makes Interactive 3-D Seem Mind-Bogglingly Real". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wilson, Mark. "zSpace: A Real Holographic Display Worthy Of Iron Man". Fast Company. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Johnson, Eric. "heap Mobile Games? Bah! Meet zSpace’s $4,000 3-D Monitor.". AllThingsD. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  6. "zSpace, Inc. Partnership With Siemens PLM Software Delivers Enhanced 3D Visualization Solution". Sys-Con Media. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Infinite Z's zSpace". upFront.eZine. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  8. Henn, Steve. "In-Q-Tel: The CIA's Tax-Funded Player In Silicon Valley". NPR. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  9. "High Speed Gesture UI for Three Dimensional Display zSpace". Ishikawa Watanabe Laboratory. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "zSpace, Inc. Partnership With Siemens PLM Software Delivers Enhanced 3D Visualization Solution". MarketWatch. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 "Core77 Design Awards 2012: zSpace, Professional Notable for Consumer Products". Core77. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  12. "Real-Time Touch-Free Gesture Control System for Image Browsing in The OR". medGadget. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  13. Alyssa. "BBC and Dassault Systemes ask: how can technology shape the future?". Dassault Systemes. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  14. Aguirre, Jessica (2 May 2014). "Los Altos School District Tries Out Virtual Reality in the Classroom". NBC. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  15. Jessica Aguirre; Barb Kunz (2 May 2014). "Los Altos School District Tries Out Virtual Reality in the Classroom". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  16. "Intel's pre-CES 2014 keynote". The Verge. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  17. Venables, Michael (25 February 2014). "NASA’s “New Apollo Moment”: Naturally Guiding Robotic Avatars In Space Exploration". Medium. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  18. "Is zSpce Device Revolutionary, Or Just Doing it Right for Once". Inquisitr. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  19. "1400社がアプリ開発 米社のVR装置、教育・医療へ". Nikkei. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  20. Geron, Tomio (24 September 2014). "zSpace Makes Immersive 3D Computing a Reality". Forbes. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  21. Emspak, Jesse (9 September 2013). "3-D Display Tracks Head for Vomit Free Views". Discovery.com. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  22. Pierce, Dennis (12 February 2014). "zSpace takes 3D learning to a whole new level". eSchool News. Retrieved 17 August 2014.

External links

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