Snapchat Acquires Seene

Snapchat Acquires Seene

Seene lets you capture 3D models from your phone with a simple smartphone camera. Snapchat could use Seene’s format for a brand new category of selfie lenses, a new 3D photo format, and potentially for future virtual reality projects.

Snapchatwas interested in Seene’s computer vision technology and its engineering team more than for its consumer product. 

Seene’s engineering team is led by CTO and co-founder Sam Hare, whose computer vision PhD specialized in real-time applications of the technology for gaming use cases. 

A note on Hare’s LinkedIn profile about the “deep stack of mobile-focused computer vision tech for structure from motion and 3D reconstruction” which he helped developed for Seene goes on to say that: “We have a great deal more R&D in the pipeline which will be released soon. Please get in touch if you’re interested in finding out more.”

The price for the acquisition is low, and that it’s a cash and share deal.The startup had raised $600,000 from Knight Foundation, Kima Ventures, EC1 Capital, OREFA, Scott McPhee, Richard Fearn, Julian Carter and potentially others.

3D geometry plus virtual experiences

There are many different use cases for Seene’s technology, but they all rely on the same differentiating factor. 

Seene scans and reconstructs full 3D geometry on your phone, Seene doesn’t need special infrared sensors and multiple cameras. Similarly, Seene doesn’t need a cloud back end to process 3D scans and recreate 3D objects  everything happens on the phone. For instance, you can scan your face in a few seconds and create a 3D selfie:

Seene is then well-positioned for true augmented reality features. Most augmented reality apps use your phone’s camera to recognize a 2D image (a QR code for instance) and inject a 3D object on your phone display. Seene can go a step further as it can inject 3D objects aroundreal life things.

It would make a lot of sense to use Seene’s technology to improve Snapchat’s selfie lenses including for advertising purposes. (Snapchat debuted sponsored lenses in fall last year, and charges a pretty penny to advertisers wanting to get their brand on people’s faces.)

Also last year, Snapchat acquired Looksery to power its selfie lenses. Combining Looksery’s technology with Seene’s technology would allow Snapchat to create more complex lenses with a real sense of depth. 

Seene also works with the camera at the back of your phone to capture 3D scenes. Combined with your phone’s accelerometers, it creates a sort of hybrid between a photo and a video; something more interactive.

Source: Techcrunch