DottyAR Lets You View 3D Models on Smartphones & Coming Soon to ODG Smartglasses

While augmented reality is mostly in the minds of consumers in the form of Pokémon GO, AR has been popular behind the scenes, with AR companies marketing it as a tool to help business operations become more efficient. This business-to-business market is the target of the new app DOTTYAR, which "provides 3D visualization tools for augmented reality viewers."

Dotty was founded as a 3D printing insole business in direct competition with Sols, but has since repositioned itself to be all about 3D visualization.

While companies like Lowe's, Panasonic, and Macy's are all in talks with Dotty about the uses for their companies, the first big project Dotty has lined up is with TurboSquid. TurboSquid is a 3D model library, which Dotty will be working to convert to be AR compatible.

"We are working with TurboSquid to convert their library into AR and VR. We can take any platform and convert it into AR," Dotty cofounder Ajay Shah said. "That's really what's going to take AR to the next level."

The Dotty software will soon also be compatible with Osterhout Design Group's wearable smartglasses. ODG is excited about the partnership, and as COO Peter Jameson told TechCrunch:

3D viewing in augmented reality is a key use case for ODG smartglasses in the enterprise, and DOTTY's software is helping to push boundaries and offer customers a new way to work in 3D by enabling collaboration in AR from wherever you are located. We are excited to offer DOTTY in our App store and to make innovative hardware-software solutions available to those wanting advanced, collaborative 3D visualization tools on our glasses.

Shah believes this technology has a place everywhere, even theme parks.

An entertainment company has employees at theme parks who are specialized repair people for when something breaks down. You can build processes and protocols to fix these maintenance issues, and use a lower pay grade (or skilled employee) to do the maintenance on site.

— Ajay Shah (via TechCrunch)

This is a similar approach that many companies are taking with regards to AR maintenance and customer service, from Adobe to Bosch.

While that's probably not ideal for any Universal Studios roller coaster technician, it is an interesting comment on the scope AR could cover in the near future.