[nxc18]

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.

[pfranz]

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.

[nxc18]

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.

[radicality]

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!

[nxc18]

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.

[hbn]

Looking through your phone at an AR object is not anywhere close to what VR offers. Maybe with a Google Cardboard / Google Daydream type experience. But not holding the phone out in front of you.

Obviously $3500 is not nothing for most people, but neither is building a house in this economy. I think the skillset of leveraging the provided code here and working with 3D models is gonna be a bigger barrier to entry than the cost of a Vision Pro.

[nekooooo]

Arkit is the first thing i thought of and has way way more of an adressable market.

[Grombobulous]

Or a used meta quest 2 which is like $100.

[outworlder]

Maybe not $3500 better, but likely $300 better (price of a Quest).

[waterTanuki]

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.