zSpace (company)
| File:Logo of zSpace.png | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Virtual and augmented reality |
| Founded | 2007[1][2] |
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale, California |
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Key people
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| Website | zspace |
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]
Contents
History
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
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
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