US tech company Lynx Laboratories has developed what it claims is the world's first point-and-shoot 3D modelling camera.
The Lynx A looks like a tablet computer with a 14-inch LCD screen but houses an advanced processor to capture complex three-dimensional models. Designed to simplify the process of 3D modelling and motion capture it offers three capture modes.
In scene modelling mode users pan the camera to build a 3D-model of the area around the camera.
In object modelling mode, the user moves the camera around an object or person to develop a model that can be printed using a 3D printer or further manipulated using modelling programs such as Blender, Maya or Revit.
In motion capture mode the camera records the movements of actors that can then be applied to animated characters.
The camera features an Intel Core i5 2.6GHz processor and 500GB of disk space. It measures approximately 29 x 20 x 2.5cm and weighs 2.7kg. Lynx Laboratories is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter to commercialise the product.