For us, we were flying to New York to meet journalists. Finalizing contracts with fulfillment centers and manufacturers. Refining and testing the codebase that would become Structure SDK. Putting the finishing touches on marketing materials. All in preparation for Structure Sensor's big debut, right here on Kickstarter. Those memories are still exciting and vivid for us, which makes it hard to believe that half a decade has now passed since we launched Structure Sensor!

Neither us nor you, our backers (and many of you are developers, too) have sat still since that launch. In the last five years:

• Developers have built and launched over 100 apps for Structure Sensor! We’ll highlight a couple that you should try a little further down in this update 
• We’ve launched two additional cutting-edge products that you can use today with the Structure Sensor you already own: Bridge for mixed reality, and Canvas for home projects, remodels and redesigns 
• Pros in industries ranging from medicine to fashion to visual effects have adopted Structure Sensor and SDK as key parts of their daily workflows.

And all of this started right here, with you. So thank you for believing in us early on, and for continuing to innovate with us over these past five years. We’ve got a few more exciting pieces of news to share with you soon...but more on that in a future backer update.

Paying It Forward

Since we know what it’s like to have gone through the stress of running a Kickstarter campaign, we try and help others who are doing the same. We’ve done countless calls with fellow founders launching cutting-edge products. And, sometimes, we’ll highlight those products in these backer updates. Today, we’d like to do just that. And, better yet, this is a product that you can use with your Structure Sensor.

We’d like to introduce you to The Looking Glass, an incredible display technology that will bring high fidelity holograms direct to your desktop.

Do you design in 3D and wish you could see a convincing representation of a project you’re working on that you can view in real time at any angle? Check out this living room captured with Structure Sensor and Canvas, imported and displayed in the Looking Glass:

Do you want to rig a 3D scan of your best friend to dance on demand? Check out this tutorial to see just how easy that is to do using your Structure Sensor and a few open source tools!

Or are you just a huge Star Wars fan and want to conjure up a hologram of Princess Leia telling you that you’re the Rebel Alliance’s only hope?

OK, that content is copyrighted and heavily protected by Lucasfilm so we couldn't use the image, but you get the idea.

The Looking Glass brings all of these incredible scenarios to life in stunning, high-contrast 3D, right before your very eyes. No headsets or special glasses required.

Right now, you can get a Looking Glass holographic display, along with access to the HoloPlay SDK and app library, for pledging $450. That’s 25% off what it will cost when it launches to everyone after their Kickstarter campaign has finished. We're backing it ourselves, and we think you should back it, too.

Try Something New With Your Structure Sensor

You likely bought your Structure Sensor to 3D scan objects and people. But did you know that you can now use it to visualize changes to your home or for shopping for new clothes? Here are two apps that you should download today to try with your Structure Sensor.

The Floori app lets you easily and photorealisticly visualize a brand new floor finish in the room you’re in, in realtime. It detects the lowest flat plane (ie, your floor) and then uses that information to automatically segment out walls, furniture and people. 

The result is a convincing depiction as you peer through your iPad at the floor below. You’ll never have to second guess your choice, as you’ve already seen exactly what it will look like!

Our friends at TechMed3D have been creating apps using Structure Sensor for nearly three years now. Until recently, those apps have largely been focused on the medical market. But, now, they've opened up their system to everyday users, too, with the introduction of 3DFitMe. Check out their video below to see how it works:

     

Thank you for having been among the very first to experience Structure Sensor! Again, we’ll have more news for you coming soon. Stay tuned to see what we’re up to next!

To the future and beyond,

— The Occipital Team

 

Introducing Canvas

Many of you likely have already heard of Canvas. For those of you that haven’t, we’d like to tell you more about this completely new app we've created for your Structure Sensor.

 

Canvas is something we've wanted to build since ... forever. If you've tried our Room Capture sample app, it's kind of like that, but seriously amped up.  It's more accurate  — scans larger spaces — and connects to our optional cloud CAD service.

It's the easiest way to turn your home's interior into an editable 3D model.

Using Canvas on an iPad with Structure Sensor, you first quickly capture a scale-accurate 3D model of a room in your home.  From there, you can instantly take measurements. There's a new plane-to-plane or point-to-point measurement tool, with more detailed meshes (vs Room Capture).  You can export the mesh as .obj and use it on your PC or share it with others.  An .obj mesh is useful, but what if you just want to work in a tool like SketchUp or AutoCAD?

Scan To CAD with Canvas

Canvas doesn’t end with on-device mesh review. It also includes a groundbreaking Scan To CAD feature that can take the 3D model from the iPad and convert it into a professional-grade 3D CAD model in formats like .skp (SketchUp), .dwg (AutoCAD), and .dae (widely-supported). These formats are great for visualizing new designs, taking easy measurements, and sharing with others like architects and designers. The Scan To CAD cloud service is optional and costs $29/scan.

Canvas & the new Wide Vision Lens 

To improve tracking quality and create better 3D models, Canvas has been designed to work with our new 120° Wide Vision Lens. (By the way, the same lens is used on the new Bridge headset.)

 

Download Canvas

You can download Canvas on the App Store. 

The optional Wide Vision Lens can be purchased separately from the accessories section of the Structure Sensor Store. 

Press

• Mashable: This iPad accessory is about to up-end the whole 3D imaging industry
• The Verge: You can now scan and measure your entire home with an iPad attachment

Canvas is a big step towards expanding what's possible with a Structure Sensor. We can't wait to hear your feedback after you try it.

— The Occipital Team

Introducing Bridge

It’s been a busy week at Occipital. Last Thursday, we gave you a hint that we had something new in store. Then, on Friday, we announced Bridge!

 

                      

Bridge is our most significant product launch since…well, since we launched Structure Sensor right here on Kickstarter three years ago. Bridge is a headset that brings two incredible new mediums to the iPhone: positionally-tracked mobile VR, and mixed reality.

What makes Bridge very different from other mobile VR headsets (other than it's sleek design using aluminum, magnets, and a custom ratchet system) is that it has a 3D sensor onboard — a Structure Sensor, of course.  Kickstarter sensors are fully-compatible with the Dark Grey color Structure Sensor that comes with Bridge. All you need is the latest firmware (2.0).

Bridge is perfect for developers that want to work in mobile VR and MR, and we've taken Structure SDK to the next level with Bridge Engine and a new Unity plugin, and it'll even ship with an app that lets you interact with a virtual robot, named Bridget, that can navigate within your living room.

Some of the press on Bridge: Engadget | The Verge | WIRED | Mashable

A special thank you for Kickstarter backers

We promised something special for Kickstarter backers, and to thank you for supporting us, we're giving you a limited-time chance to get a Bridge that you can use with your Structure Sensor for $159 (vs $279 for everyone else), or get a Bridge complete with a new Dark Grey Structure Sensor for $279 (vs $399 for everyone else).

Within the next week, you’ll receive an email with a unique link that only you can use to enable this special offer. This email will be sent to the email you used when you selected your reward for backing Structure Sensor on Kickstarter. If your email has changed since then, please let us know as soon as possible.

Want to learn more about Bridge? Take a look at our launch video:

 

We’re thankful you joined us on this journey from our very first step. As you can see from the progress made between launching Structure Sensor and launching Bridge, there’s quite a lot that can be done with a mobile depth sensor. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that, in many ways, we’ve only just begun.

— The Occipital Team

FAQ:

When will I get my link? You'll receive your special purchase link before December 24.

When does Bridge ship? Production shipments of Bridge will begin shipping in March 2017. An early developer-centric (and more expensive) Explorer Edition is shipping now.

Would you charge me now? Unlike Kickstarter pledges, we won't charge you now. You can lock in the special price now and only be charged when your order ships.

I don't have an iPhone 6, 6s or 7. I have a different iPhone or Android phone. What can I do?  For now, you’ll need an iPhone 6/6s or iPhone 7 to use Bridge, which we felt create the best tradeoff of weight and performance. Given the challenges in supporting other models of phones given our small team, we haven't announced any plans to support other models.

How long will my link be valid? Your link will be valid until January 15, 2017.

How much does shipping cost? Ground shipping is $10 in the US, and between $35 to $55 to other parts of the world.

Can I let someone else use my code? We put together this special deal for you, our Kickstarter backers, who supported our vision over three years ago when we launched Structure Sensor, so this deal is just for you.

Can I buy more than one at this price? This is a very special price that we can't offer in indefinite quantities. However, we want you to be able to develop multi-user experiences, and we know that you might want to give one to a friend while keeping one for yourself.  So, we will allow you to buy up to two (2) Bridge headsets total with your link.

Discover the New Developer Portal

Since we launched Structure SDK, the developer community has grown to include thousands of adventurous developers. And, to serve those developers who are using Structure SDK to create incredible apps like itSeez3D, 3DSizeMe and more, we’ve created a new portal that puts nearly everything developers need in one place.

When you visit the Developer Portal, you'll find: 

• The latest Structure SDK download 
• Release notes for the latest version of Structure SDK 
• App submission guidelines 
• Access to private betas, like the new Bridge Engine for mixed reality
• A sign-up for the Developer Connect Program, where developers seeking projects can get connected to clients looking to build apps with Structure SDK

To access the Developer Portal, visit the Structure SDK download page, and click the “Join Developer Program” button.

Introducing Power Adapter Pro

Quite frequently, a message will arrive at Occipital HQ that sounds something like this:

“I’d like to use Structure Sensor with an iPad for a fixed installation. I know I can keep the Structure Sensor charged with its power adapter, but how do I keep my iPad charged if the Structure Sensor is communicating via the Lightning port?”

Until recently, the answer was, “Sorry, that’s not possible.” Today, that changes. With the launch of Power Adapter Pro, we're solving this problem with an elegant solution.

When you connect the new Power Adapter Pro to your Structure Sensor, it engages hidden charging logic that allows your Structure Sensor to charge itself while simultaneously sending charge to a connected iOS device via the Lightning cable.

Not only does it allow for uses where both Structure Sensor and a connected iOS device need constant power, it also reduces cable clutter and saves space by charging both devices while only using one outlet. Check out the video below to see Power Adapter Pro in action:

 

Power Adapter Pro is available today at the Structure Sensor accessories store for most sensors sold after October 15, 2015.

The history of Power Adapter Pro goes back to our Kickstarter campaign. We developed special power logic inside every Structure Sensor to support pass-through iPad charging. We never announced this feature, because we hadn't finished the Power Adapter Pro itself.  When we tested these circuits after producing the first Power Adapter Pro samples, we discovered issues with manufacturing that made charging unreliable on Kickstarter-era Structure Sensors, so we redesigned the manufacturing process to alleviate these issues.  Unfortunately, that means Kickstarter sensors can't use Power Adapter Pro.

Since Kickstarter backers were our earliest supporters, we'd like to offer all of you a Power Adapter Pro for free (normally $49) with the purchase of a new Structure Sensor with improved power logic. Click to enable the offer: https://store.structure.io/store/code/KSPRO49 (expires July 31, 2016).

Welcoming Replica Labs to Occipital

We're very excited to announce our acquisition of Replica Labs!

Replica Labs specializes in 3D reconstruction from a single camera, like the ones built into every consumer smartphone. We will reveal more about our plans for Replica’s technology over time, but this technology could lead to a future release of Structure SDK that can reconstruct scenes and objects in 3D without any depth sensing hardware.

We believe that every device you carry with you should be a spatial computing device. One that is capable of precisely understanding your surroundings and your movements. Towards that future, we’re also revealing a feature that lets any phone or tablet with a single camera interact scale-accurately with a captured scene.

This new feature requires a single depth-powered device with a Structure Sensor to capture the scene, but then any number of standard devices can interact with it. The feature is part of our new Bridge Engine, and is being released to beta testers from the Structure developer community. To see it in action, check out this demo video:

 

Replica Labs technology is already integrated into Occipital, and the team is headquartered at our Boulder office. You can read more about the acquisition at TechCrunch.

Yours in Three Dimensions,

 — The Occipital Team