Direct Dimensions Demonstrates FaceScan Technology at Nextfest in NYC

Imagine a world where your likeness can be put onto a robot - your face, a true reflection you. Imagine how it could be used. You can build yourself to comfort sick loved ones when you are unable to physically be there or design yourself for posterity. Well, imagine no further. Hanson Robotics (HER) and Direct Dimensions, Inc. are working on this process and will be demonstrating for the public their progress at this year’s Wired NextFest being held in New York September 29-October 1, 2006.

(PRWEB) September 29, 2006 -- Imagine a world where your likeness can be put onto a robot - your face, a true reflection you. Imagine how it could be used. You can build yourself to comfort sick loved ones when you are unable to physically be there or design yourself for posterity. Well, imagine no further. Hanson Robotics (HER) and Direct Dimensions, Inc. are working on this process and will be demonstrating for the public their progress at this year’s Wired NextFest being held in New York September 29-October 1, 2006.

This year, Direct Dimensions will share the Hanson Robotics booth scanning faces in full 3D of selected conference attendees which could be generated onto a computerized robot. The scanning process uses an eye-safe laser and takes under a minute. Within minutes, participants can view the results on-site as well as thru a personalized website online following the show.

This is not the first time that HER and Direct Dimensions has worked together. Last year, renowned author and visionary, Philip K. Dick was brought back to life through their cooperative technology effort. HER created for the first time ever a life-like “android portrait” of Mr. Dick complete with his facial expression and character as a part of the broader effort to create the most “human-like” robot. Mr. Dick’s vision of a world where robots emulate humans makes his likeness a perfect choice to grace the first robot of this kind.

When HER’s founder, David Hanson, needed to perfect the design of hand-made sculptures of the android’s head and skull, he called Maryland-based Direct Dimensions, Inc. (www.directdimensions.com) experts in 3D imaging technology to precisely capture the complex human form and to create highly accurate 3D digital models. HER’s final design combined features captured from the sculpted human forms with precise mechanical components that were merged digitally by their design engineers. Ultimately the android parts were fabricated directly from the computer models using advanced manufacturing processes. The robotic facial scan video of this process can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8JGbB9N5Xg and http://www.dirdim.com/port_video.php?fileName=pkdandroidproject or go to www.youtube.com and search “dirdim.”

About Direct Dimensions, Inc.: Direct Dimensions provides advanced three-dimensional digital imaging products, services, and training for the solution of 3D-related applications in the fields of design, engineering, and manufacturing; as well as art, sculpture, and architecture. Direct Dimensions specializes in the application of 3D digitizing systems and the conversion of 3D digital data into high-resolution computer models. Direct Dimensions develops and markets systems for the solution of these complex 3D problems.

About Hanson Robotics, Inc.: Hanson Robotics is headed by company founder David Hanson, who was denoted “head of his class” by Science and his robots were called “the most advanced in the world” by the BBC. Hanson Robotics’ combination of art, science, and technology innovations allows robots to show the full range of human expressions including joy, sorrow, and surprise. Hanson Robotics is humanizing technology to allow social robots to work with people on human terms.

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