My question about virtual reality has always been, "But what is it for?" I finally have an answer: Guassian Splatting. We've always tried to capture our past, whether it's through physical photographs, VHS tapes, or every picture you have stored in the cloud, but we've been limited to viewing our personal histories in flat media, usually from a behind a screen, and always from a single angle. But Gaussian Splatting changes that. This technology allows you to create volumetric 3D models of objects, people, or spaces, so instead of a picture of your child's favorite toy, you can have a realistic scan of it that you can examine from every angle; instead of a snapshot of Thanksgiving dinner, you can have a photorealistic diorama of the dining room that you can walk around.
Another bonus: Splatting provides a much higher level of detail for its file size compared to traditional methods of scanning. Older scans work on a the geometric principle of stretching a virtual skin made of triangles over an object. For a detailed scan, that could be billions of triangles, resulting in PC-choking file sizes. Splatting is based on mathematical probability rather than rigid geometry. Instead of a solid edge, each "blob" is a tiny cloud that tells the computer how likely a color is to exist in that spot. It only stores the position, color, and transparency of millions of relevant areas in space, as well as how they should reflect light from different angles. The result is files that are big compared to Word documents, but not so huge that you can't work with them on a phone.
Why you should start Splatting
3D scanning is already in use professionally in things like mapping real estate for virtual tours and creating photorealistic assets for video games, but Gaussian Splatting is accessible enough that anyone can future-proof their nostalgia.
"Digital preservation" and "3D modeling" sound clinical, but the results of Gaussian Splats are anything but sterile. While photography captures a single angle of light in a room, Gaussian Splats capture the behavior of light from all angles, so the result isn't what the past looks like, but what the past feels like. It's hard to describe, but capturing the quality of light on an object or location puts you in touch with it in a way you didn't think possible. That combined with the haziness of Spats and your own memories adds up to a ethereal, dreamlike experience that isn't like anything else. (I like Splats a lot.)
How to get started Splatting
Pick an app: Though the technology is new, a few apps are making it very user-friendly. Here are the two I've tried:
Luma 3D Capture: Available on both Android and iPhone, Luma is great for beginners, with a scanning process that walks you through creating your first Splat.
Before you start scanning locations or bigger objects, pick something small and simple so you get the concepts down. But not pets: Your subject has to remain perfectly still through the process. (Make an exception for your child. They won't hold still enough, but having even a blurry model of your kid is vital for future you.)
Hit record and walk in a slow, steady circle around your object, keeping your camera pointed at its center.
Gaussian Splats hate uniformity. They struggle with plain white walls, so think in terms of textures. Also, avoid clear glass and mirrors that confuse the depth calculations.
Enjoy your creation: Once the math is finished mathing, you can view your creation right on your smartphone screen or computer. Pinch to zoom, drag to rotate, and marvel at how perfectly the scan captured the vibe of the object or space.
Video: You can plot a camera path through your Splat to export a smooth, 2D "fly-through" video. Below is my first scan on YouTube using Scaniverse (it's sloppy; I was new), and my second try with Luma.
How to step inside your Splats
Viewing a 3D scan on your phone or PC is kind of cool, but you can't really understand how mind-blowing these things are until you check them out in a virtual reality device, where you can physically walk around that Thanksgiving table or lean in to inspect the texture on the couch. Here is how you can do it on the two biggest headsets right now.
Apple Vision Pro
If you follow the steps above, you should be able to export the Splat file you created (.ply or .spz) right from your phone to your Vision Pro and step inside the Splat or walk around the object you scanned. You can also check out Splats other users have uploaded.
Apple Vision Pro at Apple Get Deal Get Deal at AppleMeta Quest 3 and 3S
Meta has embraced the Gaussian Splat revolution. Apps like AirVis (also on the Vision Pro) let you check out Splats you made on your phone, and there are even 4D Splats available on the Quest (more on that below). Meta is also taking the first steps toward cutting out the middleman of your phone altogether. Hyperscape Capture is a still-in-beta app that uses the Quest's existing cameras to scan your room, then save a 3D version of your space. Meta promises that soon you'll be able to send a link to a friend with a headset so they can "come visit."
Meta Quest 3 512GB — The Most Powerful Quest — Ultimate Mixed Reality Experiences — Get Batman: Arkham Shadow - White $499.99 at Amazon $598.00 Save $98.01 Get Deal Get Deal $499.99 at Amazon $598.00 Save $98.01The future of 4D Splatting
The technology is already in use commercially, most notably in A$AP Rocky's music video "Helicopter," in which performers were captured by 56 cameras and the footage converted to 4D Splats, allowing any angle or impossible camera movement to be used. Check it out:
And there are some 4D Splats you can check out in your headset too. Quest 3 app Gracia has a few volumetric videos that are very impressive. Gracia lets you stream or download 4D Splats of people, and place them anywhere you like in augmented reality. Then you can hit "play" and look at them from any angle, or even move all the way around them. To see what I mean, check out this video I made showing my view from within a Quest 3 headset, of singer Amy May performing a song on my front lawn (with a cameo from my no-doubt confused neighbor).
Gaussian Splats are as much of a revelation as I imagine instantly developing snapshots were in the 1960s. Like early Polaroids, it's a bit of a pain, and the results are sometimes grainy, "dreamy" and reminiscent of pointillism, but the emotional impact of a new way of seeing the past is so strong. So get started Splatting now; your future self will thank you.
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