As the world progressively becomes more digital, the need for more immersive digital worlds becomes more apparent. Whether through online shopping, virtual real estate tours, or even environments in VR worlds, 3D scanning has the potential to shake up the digital landscape.
Matterport is the company leading the charge on 3D scanning. Matterport cameras and software can be used to make what the company calls a "digital twin," or a realistic 3D scan of indoor environments. These digital twins have a variety of uses, such as creating a 3D replica of your office, to give customers a more personal look into your company.
One feature that makes Matterport great is that it is both incredibly easy to use and incredibly accessible. While Matterport does make their own cameras, it is no longer necessary to use one in order to create a Matterport scan. Instead, any 360 camera, like the Insta360 One X2, or cell phone with the Matterport Axis mount, can be used to create 3D models. This opens up the doors to a much larger quantity of scans, as anyone can scan and make their own 3D models.
The most common uses of Matterport include digitizing real estate listings, museums, and even brick and mortar stores. Features like labels mean that digitized versions of retail stores can show off products in a 3D environment, and then link the customer to the online store to purchase that product after viewing.
Arguably the most interesting use of Matterport though, at least to us, is its ability to be viewed in VR. Traditionally, VR environments must be meticulously 3D modeled by professional 3D design artists, but Matterport's digital twins will allow 3D environments to be easily accessible in VR spaces with just a simple scan. Not only could this transform current VR applications like VRChat, but it could also completely transform the way online shopping is done.
Instead of looking at a website and scrolling through endless product listings, imagine moving through a brick-and-mortar store in VR. This could also be used in tandem with 3D product models, allowing you to pick an item from a shelf and physically examine it. This could be applied to other existing applications of Matterport as well. Take a tour of an apartment without even stepping foot in the complex, or peruse a museum without leaving your house.
Matterport already has a partnership with Facebook AI labs. Facebook, now known as Meta, is well known as the company leading the charge into the metaverse. While "metaverse" is a nebulous term, the generally accepted idea is that the metaverse will be an online social platform based on 3D virtual worlds. While the work that Matterport is currently doing with Meta involves training artificial intelligence to recognize 3D spaces, it is possible that this partnership could expand to include Matterport digital twins having a role in the metaverse.
If you are eager to begin your Matterport journey by scanning your own digital twins, click here to purchase the Insta360 One X2.
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