Selfies have taken social networks by storm, and no matter how we feel about the idea, they are here to stay. However, the Swiss company Dacuda believes the selfie concept can go beyond a simple personal photograph. This idea is under development through the 3DSelfie app, which uses 3D scanning technology and makes it possible to share and reproduce three-dimensional models directly from a compatible smartphone.
From the classic "duck face" to group photos of celebrities that break Twitter, the selfie has forever changed the way we share moments on the Web. Some users see them as an extension of themselves, while others consider them one of the purest demonstrations of narcissism. Whichever side you're on, that doesn't change the fact that the selfie, like the tweet and the like, will be with us for a long time. Now, is there any way for the selfie to "evolve", so to speak?
The folks at Dacuda think so, and the key is adding one more dimension. Basically, the plan is to take 3D scanning technology and bring it to a level as everyday as today's selfies and smartphone cameras. The name of the upcoming app is 3DSelfie and while it's not the first time the concept of a "3D selfie" has been explored, this software sits several steps above. Instead of "cheating" with visual tricks and other shortcuts, 3DSelfie generates a true cloud of points distributed in three dimensions.
What's most interesting about this technology is its closeness to 3D printing. Considering the notable advancement of printers, it's likely that in the not-so-distant future someone will be able to share a statue of themselves instead of a simple photograph. The underlying goal for Dacuda is what they call a "democratization" of 3D scanning technology. Bringing it to a platform as abundant as mobile devices seems like a step in the right direction, although personally I have doubts about its value as a selfie creator...
