Comment by nxc18
6 hours ago
It seems like everything here can also be done with any iPhone using ARKit. Obviously the headset is better, but not $3500 better than just looking through your phone.
Just thought I’d raise this since it weirdly isn’t mentioned in the article.
I used a similar technique the last time I moved - scan the apartment using the iPhone, then I had a 3D model for measuring and planning out the space before/during the move. It’s a big help when planning out furniture etc.
And I scanned my old place before leaving so I can virtually step into it any time I want. iPhone via finder/preview handles showing 3D models in AR out of the box.
Ive used various AR apps to see how products fit in physical spaces--like Ikea used to offer. I've also worked on VR projects for car interiors. With VR you really do get a sense of scale and space that you're still guessing at with AR on a phone. I really liked when people removed the VR headset they were surprised to be back in a small room.
Like you mentioned, Ive wanted to scan some spaces to remember them in the future. Last time I looked, those apps werent very easy to find or easy to use.
I used Polycam. It was very easy to use, but imperfect. But it got the job done very quickly.
It can generate a mesh, or convert the scan into a floor plan or idealized 3d model.
I was able to capture the mesh and save to my iPhone. I think I did a month subscription and that was more than enough time.
How did you actually end up doing it, like the full pipeline ? For example what app did you use to scan your apartment and orocesss it into a 3d model (which kind?) and then how do you actually do the planning (like which tools/software to plan your new space?)
And I ask for details because I have attempted something similar but wasn’t getting the best results. I was using ‘3d scanner app’ (which was good but was sold and is not recommended now), and that created pretty decent models, but like, they were still I think based on lidar and not super precise. I also wasn’t sure how to reconcile my actual floor plan with that 3d model the right way - like if the 3d model got some error built-up, the wall which I know to be 100 inches has to be that, and not 101 or 99, since for furniture planing an inch definitely matters. So I kind of got stuck here on how to actually generate some useful and as correct dimensionally as possible 3d model, into which I can later put furniture 3d models into. Thanks for any info!
I used Polycam. I’m not sure if it’s 100% accurate down to the inch - probably not but it was quite close. They have a floor plan editor now but I haven’t tried it.
As for planning the new space, I sketched it out - I might have used their tools, might have also just sketched it out on paper.
Once I had my plan, I marked it out using masking tape just to sanity check and everything fit as expected.
Or a used meta quest 2 which is like $100.
Arkit is the first thing i thought of and has way way more of an adressable market.
Maybe not $3500 better, but likely $300 better (price of a Quest).
If you're using it for hobby projects and you're budget constrained yeah.
If you're making a sales pitch the $3500 is an investment in raising sales.