[John Layne]

Industrial Research Ltd a New Zealand R & D Company have just released this information on a hand held 3d Scanner they are developing.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3866952a28,00.html

http://www.irl.cri.nz/newsandevents/inn ... world.aspx

Ok, the Backpack is a little on the large size, now, but it's 2 years away
from commercial release. This could be rather handy for large area scans.

I occasionally sub contract to Industrial Research (or DeviceWorks a subsidiary) so I'll have to ask someone if it has the potential to scan smaller objects at higher resolutions. Unfortunately I have had no involvement what so ever with this particular project.

[glypticmax]

Interesting stuff. And beneficial for a lot of people.
But heaven help he little dweeb like myself which sets up at a trade show with a unique item or design. Any customer will be able to walk by with a pair of eye glasses properly rigged and then email the resulting 3D file off to a hungry competitor.
My earrings will be RP'd before the end of the first day of the show.