ZSpace (company)

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zSpace
Type Privately Held
Industry Multimedia and Graphics Software
Founded 2001
Founder(s) Michael Vesely
Headquarters Sunnyvale, California
Key people Paul Kellenberger CEO
Products Holographic imaging
Revenue $2 million
Employees 50
Website zSpace

zSpace is a technology firm based in Sunnyvale, California that creates 3-Dimensional holographic imaging displays. zSpace allows people to interact with simulated objects in virtual environments as if they are real.[1][2][3][4]

zSpace is known for its progressive developments in human-computer interaction.[5] Paul Kellenberger is the company’s current CEO and President.[4][6]

History

Founder and former Chief Technology Officer Michael Vesely founded zSpace, then “Infinite Z,” in 2001.[4][7][8] The prototype for the zSpace holographic platform was created with backing from the Central Intelligence Agency’s In-Q-Tel fund, which invests in technology startups.[9] The innovation represented a new approach to problem solving, designing, teaching, and communicating.[10]

zSpace found its place among relatively untapped “geospatial markets” with users who would make use of 3-D manipulation technologies.[1][7][11] Although the initial target markets were enterprise and education, prospective clients began to recognize a nearly limitless potential for zSpace applications in any endeavor where 3-D study and interaction would be beneficial.[1][2][3] Gaming developers and consumers also began to take a keen interest in the budding company.[1][3] zSpace soon found its way into a variety of sectors including government, military, medicine, education, industry, and entertainment.[1][2][3][12]

zSpace has garnered several positive reviews for its “mind-boggling” holographic display.[1][2] Conversely, some critics suggested that zSpace might be cost-prohibitive for the average consumer.[1][2] Company executives publicly stated in April 2013 that they “[expected] the price of the zSpace to fall below $1000 within 18 to 24 months.”[3]

zSpace executives have turned their attention to developing partnerships with “active players” in the VR industry, and made their “primary focus, today and for the next year, [to get] applications on zSpace.”[12] In November 2012, zSpace released an independent software development kit.[2]

Product

The zSpace system allows for the visualization of data in three dimensions.[12] It consists of three user-responsive components: a 3-D monitor, stylus, and glasses.[3][6] Working together, these components create an “augmented reality” or “immersive realistic interaction” in which data that appears as a “real object” can be viewed, manipulated, analyzed, and shared.[1][10][11][13]

Awards and recognition

  • Finalist, American Technology Awards, in Advanced Manufacturing/Tech Manufacturing, May 2013[13]
  • Core77 Design Awards, “Professional Notable” in Consumer Products, August 2012[14]
  • Computer Graphics World Conference, “Best of Show,” March 2012[14]
  • NASA “TechBriefs,” Featured Product[14]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Knight, Will. "A Display That Makes Interactive 3-D Seem Mind-Bogglingly Real". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Wilson, Mark. "zSpace: A Real Holographic Display Worthy Of Iron Man". Fast Company. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Johnson, Eric. "heap Mobile Games? Bah! Meet zSpace’s $4,000 3-D Monitor.". AllThingsD. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Company Overview of Infinite Z, Inc.". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  5. ↑ "zSpace, Inc. Partnership With Siemens PLM Software Delivers Enhanced 3D Visualization Solution". Sys-Con Media. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Infinite Z's zSpace". upFront.eZine. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "zSpace". CrunchBase. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  8. ↑ [http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=109929136&privcapId=37312461&previousCapId=37312461&previousTitle=Infinite%20Z,%20Inc. "Executive Profile: Michael Vesely"]. Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  9. ↑ Henn, Steve. "In-Q-Tel: The CIA's Tax-Funded Player In Silicon Valley". NPR. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Michael Vesely". Artiman. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Infinite Z, Inc.". InsideView. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "zSpace, Inc. Partnership With Siemens PLM Software Delivers Enhanced 3D Visualization Solution". MarketWatch. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Press Releases". zSpace. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Core77 Design Awards 2012: zSpace, Professional Notable for Consumer Products". Core77. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
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