Impact of Engineering Design
The proposed design has implications at a global level. Firstly, the Microsoft’s Kinect system has formed the basis for the continued evolution of scanning technologies. For instance, Hardesty (2015) reported algorithms that exploited the polarization of light to improve the depth sensing of the Microsoft’s Kinect system by a thousand fold. One of the challenges identified by Tong et al., (2012) regarding the Microsoft’s Kinect system was that it achieved a coarse depth. However, the combination of the depth frames from the Microsoft’s Kinect system for polarized photographs shows that Microsoft’s Kinect systems have the ability to achieve scans that have the depth quality of a laser when polarization cues are used (Hardesty, 2015).
The impact of the Microsoft’s Kinect system will also be felt globally in the filmmaking industry. This is more the case when the Microsoft’s Kinect system is coupled with other systems such as light polarization. The system will revitalize various applications that rely on three-dimensional scanning such as quality assurance, virtual prototyping, special effects and games (Cui, Chang, Noll, Stricjer, 2012). For instance, avatar making is relatively easy with this technology because image data and depth can be captured at rates that are used in the shooting of videos without depending significantly on texture conditions and special lighting (Cui, Chang, Noll, Stricjer, 2012).
The fact that the Microsoft’s Kinect systems have a low operation cost and initial cost imply that they are economically accessible to more users. The fact that Kinect system V2 is available for Windows, a very popular operating system means that the industries in which these applications are used will be revitalized by the availability of high-quality scanning technology that is cost efficient and effective. The fact that there are solutions for some of the challenges associated with Microsoft’s Kinect system will further increase their utilization.
Economic Impact
The proposed for the use of Microsoft’s Kinect system for the three-dimensional scanning of human bodies has several economic implications. The proposed method offers economical advantages to its users over the conventional three-dimensional scanning technologies. Tong, Zhou, Liu, Pan & Yan (2012) find that the conventional three-dimensional scanning technologies require a high initial capital. This implies that the installation of these technologies is expensive and will require a sizeable capital investment.
The Microsoft’s Kinect system is cheaper relative to the conventional three-dimensional scanning technologies. Zhang, Fu, Ye & Yang (2014) find that the availability of the cheaper options has made three-dimensional scanning easier. The other economic impact relates to the operation cost. Tong et al., (2012) also reports that the conventional three-dimensional scanning technologies are complex and need expert knowledge during its operation. The implication is that a technician who is versed in its operation, and who possesses the requisite knowledge is required. This comes at a cost premium, unlike the Microsoft’s Kinect system which is east to use and does not necessarily require the level of expert knowledge required for the operation of the conventional three-dimensional scanning technologies.
The proposed design has the potential to stimulate demand which will lead to economies of scale. The enabling factors are the low cost of the three-dimensional scanners, the low cost of operation, and the fact that the time required to scan a human figure is lower compared to the conventional three-dimensional scanning technologies (Tong et al., 2012). The quality of the scans is impressive and is done at a fraction of the cost, a fact that gives the consumer value of his money.
Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of the proposed design is more the result of the other components with which the product of the design is used. Nonetheless, there are elements of the design that have an impact on the environment. For instance, the Microsoft’s Kinect system is portable, a fact that gives it its versatility. The implication is that it requires a portable source of energy. The preferred sources would be an external battery. The environmental impact of the batteries relates to the fact that since they are hardly repurposed, their disposal can result in negative environmental impacts. The design does not use other materials that are disposable, and this element limits its impact on the environment.
The production phase of any product is a potential source of environmental impacts. The production of the design entails the assembly of some elements. For instance, the Microsoft’s Kinect system sensor is already in the market and being used extensively in the gaming world. The fact that that Microsoft’s Kinect system sensor is already in the market means that there is a reduction in the production process.
Its use commercially is contingent on acquiring the licensure from Microsoft. The other components used in include computers fitted with the Microsoft Windows operating system. These are also components that are in the market. This further reduces the production processes, a factor that contributes to the reduced environmental impact of the proposed design. The remaining components for the assembly of the entire system can be produced using locally available materials in factories that comply with the standards of the International Organizations for Standardization (ISO) 9000 – 14001.
Societal Impact
The social impact of the proposed design is indicated by the applications of the three-dimensional scanner in objects that influence or aid social integration. One potential application was explored by Hardesty (2015) and relates to the use of the Microsoft’s Kinect system in smartphones to enhance their imaging capabilities. This also entails the use of polarization filters in the redesigned camera of a smartphone. Their purpose is to improve the light sensor of the reconfigured camera so that the individual pixels are overlaid. The overall effect would be an improvement in the resolution of the camera, hence better imaging (Hardesty, 2015).
Another potential application that is gaining impetus as found by Hardesty (2015) is the use of the design with the corrections made by polarization systems in the design of self-driving cars. Given that the Microsoft’s Kinect system has the capabilities to record images at the rate of a video shooting, its application in the design of self-driving cars is a possibility. The challenge would be the image resolution (Hardesty, 2015). However, the use of polarization systems in the Microsoft’s Kinect system can increase the reliability of the systems in normal lighting conditions.
The use of the system is an improvement of the vision algorithms that are used in the experimental cars. This is because the algorithms at present are challenged when the lighting conditions are changed by the presence of fog, snow, or rain (Hardesty, 2015). The effect of water particles in the atmosphere causes the scattering of light making the situation difficult for the vision algorithms to interpret. This system can offer solutions, thereby aiding in the continued design of these modes of communication.
References
Cui, Y., Chang, W., Noll, T., Stricjer, D. (2012). KinectAvatar: Fully Automatic Body Capture Using a Single Kinect. Retrieved from http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~wychang1/papers/accv2012finalpaper.pdf
Hardesty, L. (2015). Making 3-D imaging 1,000 times better. Retrieved from http://news.mit.edu/2015/algorithms-boost-3-d-imaging-resolution-1000-times-1201
Tong, J., Zhou, J., Liu, L., Pan, Z., and Yan, H. (2012). Scanning 3D Full Human Bodies using Kinects. Retrieved from http://www.math.zju.edu.cn/ligangliu/cagd/projects/kinects- capturinghumans/paper/paper-vr2012.pdf
Zhang, Q., Fu, B., Ye, M., and Yang, R. (2014). Quality Dynamic Human Body Modeling Using a Single Low-cost Depth Camera. Retrieved from http://www.cv- foundation.org/openaccess/content_cvpr_2014/papers/Zhang_Quality_Dynamic_Human _2014_CVPR_paper.pdf>
