BigThinx’s neural networks do a 3D body scan using just two photos from a smartphone. Calculates accurate measurements of the whole body: 44 body measurements and body composition ratios with an accuracy greater than 95%. It is then used for instant clothing size and fit combination.
The software also creates a virtual avatar that is an exact digital copy of the client, including skintone and hairstyle. Use photos of clothes and shoes to recreate them in 3D versions. A customer can fit them into the 3D avatar to see how it would look, fit and cover exactly.
The Bengaluru-based company was one of the 11 best international fashion startups selected by Startupbootcamp in Milan in 2019, a program that has Prada and Accenture among its partners. BigThinx has taken fashion virtual testing to a whole new level through virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). More than 30 customers from nine countries, including Fortune 500 companies and e-commerce companies, luxury fashion and export houses, use BigThinx. They use it to reduce returns and waste of clothing, to engage the brand, and to increase conversions.
Returns are a big issue when buying fashion online. “The rate of return is close to 80% in Germany and brands are losing millions because of it,” says Chandralika Hazarika, who co-founded BigThinx along with Shivang Desai. According to her, performance has been reduced by more than 40% with 3D body scanning alone and up to 70% when using digital avatars for virtual testing.
Virtual reality and augmented reality (RA) are beginning to allow for fascinating solutions, especially in combination with other technologies such as AI and robotics. Reliance’s Jio Glass, introduced last year, will allow you to sit at home and join a meeting with colleagues in 3D. Hyderabad-based Imaginate has also created a solution to provide 3D conferencing capabilities, which is expanding to serve different use cases. Jio Glass hopes to enable teachers to provide a more immersive and engaging remote learning experience for students. These products have been designed and manufactured by Mumbai Tesseract, a company that Reliance bought in 2019.
Mimyk, incubated at IISc Bangalore, has developed simulators for surgeries to help young doctors understand how a procedure is done without having to experiment with a patient. “Traditionally, junior doctors learn by watching seniors perform surgeries. We use AR / VR systems to have a simulated body on an operating table and an endoscope that doctors can use to insert into it. The haptic system acts as an interface for human-machine interaction, ”says co-founder Shanthanu Chakravarthy.
The haptic interface consists of a haptic device (a mechanical manipulator with sensors) and a computer running the control system that regulates the interaction with the virtual world. Currently, several hospitals, including Asian gastroenterology hospitals, Hyderabad and Ramaiah, are testing the product.
“One of the advantages of this immersive technology is that, on an oil rig, for example, that is being built, I can identify what problems will arise,” says Praveen Bhaniramka, founder and CEO of Exxar, a company that provides solutions to Caterpillar, Garden Reach Ship Builders and Eicher engines. There is always a gap between design and construction, and it is a major challenge in industrial and manufacturing units as it leads to waste and escalating costs. “Virtual reality allows you to anticipate these problems if you are there physically, reviewing the design,” says Bhaniramka.
Meanwhile, Hazarika and Desai from BigThinx are working to change other elements of the fashion world. They have developed software that creates 3D avatars of models and garments, which are then represented and animated based on product designs and measurements. This technology was unveiled last year at a fashion show hosted by Fashinnovation, a New York-based conference on innovation in the fashion industry that had realistically moving models virtually.
How to become a successful AR / VR professional?
Mhantyk’s Shantanu Chakravarthy says a good understanding of computer graphics, math (especially linear algebra), and sound programming skills are key. “UI / UX knowledge and digital art are also important,” he says. Familiarity with writing code in C / C ++, Java, or Python Fast it is necessary for the field.
A VR / AR working group formed by Nasscom has recently designed a curriculum aimed at students with basic knowledge about extended reality and that allows them to expand their knowledge by learning AR / VR concepts at a fundamental level. It is aimed at university students enrolled in engineering, computer science, statistics, science or mathematics. The goal is to allow them to explore entry-level roles, such as AR / VR support analysts and junior engineers.
Job offers and salaries: personnel company Xpheno estimates that there are about 14,000 active openings in AR / VR for those familiar with Java / Python / JS, 9,000 for those familiar with C3 / C ++ / C #, 12,000 for backend engineers, 6,000 for Objective C / Swift, 4,000 for UI / UX designers and 1,500 for Maya / 3D MAX / Autodesk 3D. These are experiences ranging from 2 to 8 years and salaries range from 16 lakh to 27 lakh.
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