3D technology in your pocket: the first smartphone with which you can take 3D selfies and avatars

It seems that the revolution in 3D printing, which experts have been predicting for many years, has finally taken place - the first smartphone has been released that can process objects in such a way as to create a three-dimensional graphic model from them and then reproduce it digitally, and if desired, in printed form.

Vakhtang Makharadze (Radio Mayak) and his avatar in the new Sony Xperia XZ2

Let industrial 3D printers still remain expensive and inaccessible, but after all, the average user does not dream of starting to make pipes or auto parts at home as soon as possible.

Instead, with Sony's new Xperia XZ-2 smartphone, you can create a 3D model... of yourself. And post it as a new avatar in social networks, which can be twisted and viewed. Or play a prank on a friend — make a 3D model, and then turn him into an alien.

The commercial demonstrates that in order to make a high-quality 3D model, it is enough to capture a camera in a special "scan-shooting" mode and hold a small angle on both sides of the face for 15 to 60 seconds. If there is no friend at hand, the 3D scanner also works on the front camera.

The phone even has what is called augmented reality — in a special application, you can reproduce your digital avatar in front of the camera or transfer 3D objects to the real world - take a picture of your favorite trinket and see how it will look at home.

With this feature, you can make cool animated postcards and send them to friends using your own face instead of an emoji. But, most likely, you can already prepare for the fact that the Instagram feed will be flooded with 3D cheesecakes and 3D cappuccino.

Apparently, phone manufacturers have seriously decided to get everyone hooked on toys — but at least interesting things come out of this zeal. Sony is the first manufacturer to introduce 3D scanner technology into a smartphone - the previous model also supported this function, but only on the main camera. Prior to that, technology lovers needed to use third—party devices and applications, but Xperia XZ2 is ready to enter the market very soon - from March 22 to April 5, it is already possible to pre-order in Russia.

But that's not all — a digital 3D avatar can be saved and, if desired, printed at home - or order printing from specialists. Now there are even 3D printers for the kitchen, on which you can make an edible model of yourself.