Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/297333
08 florida.HIGH.TECH 2014 Faces of Technology Amir Rubin Paracosm | www.Paracosm.io Chief Parakeet (CEO) Education: B.S. in Computer Engineering, University of Florida Company: Paracosm's goal is to create a 3-D model of every place on earth. The company's software converts depth cameras (i.e., Microsoft Kinect) into photo-realistic, 3-D scanning systems that can generate 3-D models of building interiors. Why can't students in Orlando walk the Great Wall of China? Cost would be the obvious reason, but one high tech leader in Gaines- ville is trying to make that obsolete. Paracosm CEO Amir Rubin has a goal to create a 3-D model of every place on earth. It may seem like a lofty goal, but listening to Rubin makes it sound achievable. "Until recently, mapping has been primarily for the outdoors," said Rubin. "Surveyors and government agencies at federal and local levels extensively map outdoor areas, but the trend is shifting from a bird's eye view to wanting the ability to zoom into a building. The new frontier of the industry will be indoor mapping." The company can create a 3-D model of any interior within a few hours. Video footage from depth cameras, such as the Microsoft Kinect, is uploaded to the Paracosm system for a product that can be used for home builders to visualize spaces, retail stores to manage facili- ties or forensics teams to recreate crime scenes. The maps are a true reflection of the real world. Rubin is not new to the startup scene. He fell in love with 3-D proj- ects in his last year as an undergrad at the University of Florida and went on to help launch Gainesville's Prioria Robotics and Shadow Health. He knows the value of a strong entrepre- neurial environment and works in the Corridor region for its simulation ties and high tech industry. "Orlando is the world's capital for simulation," Rubin said. "We have these incredible tools for 3-D scan- ning and 3-D modeling and simu- lation locally. Why hasn't anyone combined the two?" Paracosm leads the charge. Rubin believes the depth camera technol- ogy could be available to the masses as early as 2015 with recent 3-D sensor acquisitions by tech giants such as Apple. The technology will inevitably be integrated into cellphones and other devices making the quest to map the world that much easier. The possibilities of new technology stemming from a digital map of the world are endless. For example, computers will have the ability to "under- stand" reality by having a digital blueprint for every building. This could lead to augmented reality glasses that help visually impaired people navigate build- ings by providing audible instructions. To Rubin, a project is only worth doing if it will positively impact people's lives and with his latest business venture, he is on his way.