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.”

TechTol Imaging, LLC has developed proprietary software and an imaging studio that can
capture a 3D rotational image of any object in seconds. TechTol can produce 3D images of
items such as shoes, watches, and clothing featuring live models if desired. The
technology stands to revolutionize presentations by a multitude of industries including :
Distance learning
Clothing retail
Social Networks
Medical fields
Museum archiving
Their website http:// www.techtol.com features a video demonstrating the process.

SwampBubbles

TOLEDO — More than 200 people committed to accelerating the region’s tech-based business growth gathered recently for an opportunity to learn more about recent advancements and successes in the local community.
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Tech-minded professionals met Jan. 21 at the Navy Bistro for Tech Connect, a quarterly networking event hosted by the Regional Growth Partnership’s Launch and Rocket Ventures technology programs.

“Our purpose for Tech Connect is to provide entrepreneurs and small technology companies an opportunity to network and interact with investors, the business community and academic institutions,” said Tasha Hussain Black, director of Launch.

Attendees heard from two new start-up companies who described their business plans, strategies and paths to success. Tech Tol Imaging CEO Phil Cox explained his company’s revolutionary technology as the only business offering instantaneous capture and viewing of 3D rotational images on the Internet.

Rick Wasserman, co-founder and CEO of PhysioSim, discussed his company’s creation of a patient assessment training mannequin, which allows medical students to perform real-world assessments and track results; better preparing them for field work.

“These two technology companies are a testament to the competence and innovation already existing in our region,” said Steve Weathers, president and CEO of the RGP. “Our goal will be to draw out more of these potential start-up through Tech Connect, provide the necessary services through Launch and Rocket Ventures, and continue developing a tech-based economy.”

Other sponsors of Tech Connect include the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University and Gorillas and Gazelles. Launch is a tech-based business incubation programs of the Regional Growth Partnership.

Launch provides comprehensive business assistance for entrepreneurs and start-up companies that are commercializing revolutionary, world-class technologies, to accelerate company growth and time to market entry.

Rocket Ventures, a division of the Regional Growth Partnership, is a pre-seed, early stage venture fund for technology-based entities/companies operating within the state of Ohio.

It consists of $15 million in state funding and $7.5 million in private sector investment and is supported through the Ohio Department of Development.

The Regional Growth Partnership is a private non-profit development corporation dedicated to fostering local, national and international economic growth opportunities for Northwest Ohio.

Cox said there is a huge demand for rotational images on the Internet, but existing systems to produce them are time-consuming, result in poor quality images or are not available commercially. The higher-quality rotational images are created with extensive manual labor and require large data files that make quick downloading and sharing of images difficult.

“TechTol uses a patented technology to capture rotational images in seconds and put them online in minutes compared to the current technology that takes hours or days to develop,” said Cox, “We have visions of Toledo becoming the 3-D imaging capital of the world.”

Cox said both stationary objects, such as a sculpture, and moving objects, such as a fluttering butterfly, can be captured, rotated and zoomed for use on the Web. Viewers can zoom in without losing resolution to see the small detail and even read the fine print of a product label online, he said.

These 3-D rotational images are used in advertising, e-catalogs and other commercial applications but also could be used on social sites such as MySpace or Facebook with the more affordable production of them using the technology, Cox said.

Toledo Free Press – Click here

It seems as if every day we’re hearing about companies closing the doors and people losing their jobs. But one group is working to create new jobs by re-inventing the local economy.

It’s not often you hear someone say 2009 will be a great year for this region considering the automotive industry. But they’re referring to start-up technology companies. Phil Cox is an inventor. He wants to make Toledo the 3d imaging capital of the world.

Phil Cox the CEO of Techtol Imagining says, “The internet is going to be 3d whether it’s going to be us doing it or not, but someone will be.”

Last year he launched his company Techtol Imaging with financial and business consulting help from Rocket Ventures and Launch, the technology programs of Regional Growth Partnership. RGP is a private, non-profit development corporation. Its goal is to establish the northwest Ohio region as a location for technology advancement. read more…

Images of both stationary objects (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) on the web.

How about viewing a power tool, shoe, or a dress to really see it before buying it?

Despite the demand for rotational images on the Internet, existing methods to produce them are very time consuming, frequently result in poor quality images, and/or are not available commercially. Currently, high quality rotational images are created with extensive manual labor and require large data files which make quick download and sharing of images cumbersome. Using its patented pending technology, TechTol is the first and only company to offer near instantaneous capture and Internet ready 3D rotational images .