Demystifying Spatial Computing

Hey Trailblazers,

Welcome to the Spatial POV, where pixels meet perspectives. The latest from our world includes:

• Apple’s big launch

• Spatial computing explained

• Updates to our website

• A new member of our team

 Let’s jump in!

🌟 Website Glow-Up

Our website is starting the year with a fresh perm. Our home page now has more founder quotes than a high school yearbook, and our new startup application portal is so user-friendly even your grandma could apply with her killer knitting app idea.

We’ve expanded the Team page - finally including our Advisors, Andre and Jordi! These two have been part of our crew for a while, but we never gave them a proper shout-out. So, here's a much-deserved intro:

• Andre is a legend in computer graphics. As the former VP of Eng at Unity and CTO at Kaydara, he was rendering the impossible when today's tech giants were just learning to code.

• Jordi has managed in more currencies than most of us could name. His finance acumen includes Spain, Hong Kong, Japan, and the US.

👏 New Addition to the Team

We’d also like to welcome a new Advisor to the Team, Babak Rasolzadeh!

With a PhD in Computer Vision and a decade immersed in AI (no, not in the Matrix), he’s the guy you call when your robots start getting smart. He leads an AI/ML team at Apple, but he won’t tell us what he’s working on. When he's not building the mysterious, Babak is either scaling the Alps or piloting a Cessna. He’s also part of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers Association, fulfilling his childhood dream of reaching for the stars.

Did someone forward this to you? Want more? 

🍎 Market Musings: Apple Vision Pro

Apple is launching the Vision Pro on Feb 2nd, and the market’s buzzing with opinions. Is this just another shiny gadget or a future landfill staple? Only time will tell! One thing is clear, though - this “spatial computing” term just got hot!

🔬 Spatial Computing - Not Just Sci-Fi Anymore

With the launch of Apple’s Vision Pro, many are interchanging the terms “spatial computing” with “VR.” Quite frankly, this annoys us. 🤯

So let’s demystify "Spatial Computing." 

Spatial Computing sounds like something out of Star Trek, but it's more common than you think. Imagine giving your computer a sixth sense – the ability to understand (perceptual computing) and interact with (spatial computing) the world in 3D. From the cars we drive to the games we play, spatial computing is weaving its way into the fabric of daily life, making our interactions with technology more intuitive and, dare we say, more human.

There are a wide variety of industries using spatial computing to enhance productivity and safety. Here are a few real-world examples from companies you know …

• Agriculture: DJI drones help visualize crop health, reduce herbicides, and improve crop yields and efficiency through precision agriculture.

• Augmented Reality: Niantic overlays digital wonders onto our physical world, turning everyday walks into adventures.

• Autonomous Vehicles: Tesla cars create a dynamic map of their surroundings and make real-time decisions about braking.

• Construction: Autodesk tools assist the design and visualization of complex construction projects in 3D, reducing costs and improving safety.

• HealthCare: Philips is using spatial computing to revolutionize healthcare. Imagine a 3D map of a patient’s heart, aiding doctors in complex surgeries.

• Industrial Automation: Cognex’s machine vision systems ensure parts coming off the assembly line are tip-top.

• Land Planning: ESRI transforms aerial footage and satellite imagery into terrain maps for natural resource management and sustainability.

• Navigation: Waze analyzes real-time GPS data to outsmart traffic jams.

• Security: Apple’s FaceID turns the unique shape and appearance of your face into a password.

• Smart Cities: Siemens is turning cities into futuristic hubs, optimizing everything from traffic lights to energy grids. 

• Virtual Reality: Meta's VR headsets track your hand movements and map the dimensions of your physical room into digital realms. 

In short, spatial computing is not just a trendy term for tech enthusiasts; it is shaping our world in exciting ways. It's about making technology adapt to our world rather than the other way around. So, next time you use your smartphone or hail an autonomous taxi, remember that you're witnessing a slice of spatial computing magic!

As we close this edition of the Spatial POV, remember that in the ever-advancing world of technology, staying informed is not just an option; it’s a necessity.

Cheers,

Doug