A technology that bites you on the nose may not seem like a good thing, but in the case of 3-D, it's perfect.
A small company in Rochester, New York has figured out how to make 3-D images literally leap off the screen.
And, they do this without the use of any goggles or headgear.
Dimension Technologies, Incorporated, or DTI, was started in the late 1980s by Arnie Lagergren and Jesse Eichenlaub.
Each man wanted to start his own business, and they were a perfect match:
incredible, innovative ideas, paired with powerful managerial talent.
Today, DTI is still a small firm only 10 employees, and so each one must wear several different hats at any given time.
They may be small, but they think big and have big plans.
DTI received a contract award from Ames Research Center, funded through NASA'S
Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, Program.
Through the working partnership with Ames, DTI developed 3D scientific visualization that
that allows engineers to examine fluid flow around models of the space shuttle.
In 2003, that technology was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame.
NASA is currently funding DTI research on a concept for a head-tracking device with an enhanced focus.
Lagergren believes that NASA'S SBIR Program has played a large part in the company's success.
In effect that became not only our savior, but gave us the ability to grow our company and develop our technologies.
DTI is the world leader in making desktop flat panel displays that go from 2D
to full-color, full motion 3D images with the flip of a switch.
What's more these virtual windows are affordable for the general public.
We have what you call a revolutionary technology, rather than just being a little faster or a little smaller or whatever
like an evolutionary thing, this changes the way people do things.
How does DTI create their unique 3D imagery?
Based on parallax view, where each eye sees the same image from a slightly different
angle, the company has patented a manufacturing process for their flat panel displays.
NASA is just one of the many users of DTI's technologies. The gaming industry has widely adopted them.
And, by adding second-party software, movies and games can be displayed in
"virtual 3D," created by the software and a DTI flat panel.
Just as important is NAVAIR. The firm has been working with NAVAIR under an SBIR
contract to develop technologies for training and simulation that include a projection
system with ultra-hi definition resolution images.
NAVAIR was looking for higher definition, higher resolution products, and we had an answer.
The company has developed a prototype of the projection system and screen for NAVAIR.
A couple of well-known companies have already expressed interest in
commercializing the technology for home entertainment.
Working with the NAVAIR and NASA researchers was incredibly beneficial to DTI.
We get smarter as a result of understanding their applications so they are constantly keeping us on good direction and
basically showing us the next footprint the next footprint the next footprint to be able to come up with a monitor technology .
that can satisfy their requirements. DTI is now working on a cell phone prototype, and Lagergren has a prediction.
Eventually, the platformís going to be the cellphone. And, DTI plans to be there biting people on the nose!