Geomagic

What do space shuttle safety measures and modern shoemaking have in common? Both use a 3-D design and engineering technology that streamlines a wide range of inspection and manufacturing processes. Geomagic is an industry leader in the technology called digital shape sampling and processing, or DSSP, created with support from the National Science Foundation. It starts with scanning an object, from a race car to a human body, with optical beams. A camera inside the scanner transmits millions up to a billion points to a computer. NASA uses the technology to identify damage to the space shuttle because flying debris during liftoff can harm the orbiter's protective tiles.