Varjo, known for crafting high-end virtual and mixed reality (XR) headsets, has just introduced a breakthrough smartphone-based 3D scanning service designed specifically for enterprises. This new tool aims to enable users to create exquisitely detailed digital environments swiftly and explore them in virtual reality and on conventional displays.
Named Teleport, this subscription-based app offers a fascinating feature that allows the capture and recreation of real-life areas in a mere 5 to 10 minutes, significantly outpacing traditional photogrammetry techniques. Compatibility covers a broad range of Apple devices, including any iPhone from the XR onwards and the 8th generation iPad and later models running iOS 17 or above.
The fascinating part is the “digital twins” produced through this app. Users can delve into these virtual replicas using smartphones, PCs, or even explore them through Varjo’s or any major PC VR headsets. It’s made possible by leveraging cutting-edge innovations in Gaussian Splatting and NVIDIA’s trained generative models, where the high-quality 3D models are processed in the cloud before being rendered on a device. Thus, after the model is downloaded, users don’t need a continuous internet connection for exploration.
Teleport is available at $30 a month, but Varjo is generously offering a seven-day free trial. Once subscribed, users gain access to an array of captures in both standard and high resolution via a web viewer, or they can enjoy the finest quality visuals through a desktop client.
This release of Teleport coincides with a significant expansion in Varjo’s Series D funding, introducing new investors like Beyond Capital, Nishikawa Communications, and NVIDIA. Although the exact details of the fundraising remain undisclosed, Varjo shares with Road to VR that their total funding now touches approximately €180 million ($188 million USD). This financial boost is pivotal for Varjo’s endeavor to expedite the adoption of its XR tech solutions within industrial sectors. CEO Timo Toikkanen emphasizes the role AI and machine learning will play in weaving together real and virtual worlds to boost their industrial clients’ productivity and efficiency.
In contrast, Meta is also venturing into this area with its own product geared towards consumers, unveiling a demo experience called Horizon Hyperscape back in September. This project highlights Meta’s ambitions in photorealistic VR spaces, with future possibilities for creators to “build worlds within Horizon” by scanning their surroundings with a phone. However, there’s no specific timeline for when this service might become widely available.
