May
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3D imaging technology: Toledo Business Journal
As published in Toledo Business Journal – May 1, 2009
TechTol Imaging, LLC, based in Sylvania, has invented a new process to acquire and display
rotational 3D digital images for the Internet. Its patented Imaging Capturing System can take an
image of any object and create a 360-degree view.
TechTol Imaging’s patented image acquisition systems can acquire, process, and produce digital
rotational images of objects ranging in size from the head of a pin to an entire basketball team.
According to the company, the systems have the capability of producing z-axis rotational images
quickly and cheaply and are not encumbered by the requirement for the subject(s) to remain
motionless during the process.
In less than a minute, TechTol’s technology allows users to capture and fully rotate (on the z-axis) an image of a person or thing. Viewers can also zoom in to see the smallest detail and even read the fine print of a product warning.
Images of both stationary objects (such as a museum sculpture) and moving objects can be captured. Anniversary couples, grandchildren, pets, bowling teams, the bracelets in a jewelry store, or frogs in a biology lab can all be viewed, rotated, and zoomed (VRZ) online.
“It’s a 3D imaging system where you walk into a specially-designed photo booth and instantaneously get your picture taken by a series of cameras,” stated Julie Myers, Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) marketing manager. “Then there is an algorithm that takes those camera images and makes them into a rotational 3D image.”
Myers explained that the company is currently researching the paths it wants to go down in order to market the company. It is also completing market research to see what customers to target.
According to Myers, the system could possibly be targeted to retailers who want to showcase their products or to universities who want to use it to teach anatomy.
VisionLocker.com, a free hosting website provided by TechTol Imaging, has been created to host TechTol Imaging’s 3D objects. With software created by TechTol, 3D rotational objects can be uploaded to the site; the reference code can then be pasted anywhere online to share the image. Much like other image / file hosting websites, VisionLocker will provide free user accounts. Future plans for VisionLocker will include photo and video hosting and internal social networking capabilities.
TechTol Imaging recently received a $50,000 Ignite! grant from Rocket Ventures, a program of the RGP. The company has been working with Rocket Ventures and Launch, also an RGP program, which have been assisting the company with business development, marketing plans, and growth initiatives.
“Rocket Ventures worked very closely with [TechTol],” Myers stated. “We have two people that are really engaged with [the project]: myself from marketing and Joanne Poe Abbott, who is working on its business development.”
In mid-December, TechTol Imaging was featured on the WGTE Public Media program Plugged-In. The monthly series explores the latest innovations in technology and research in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
“The TechTol team’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive is awe-inspiring,” added Abbott, Rocket Ventures business development manager. “It’s amazing to see their dream of providing Internet viewers with a high quality, low-cost 3D image come to fruition.”
