*Anything that interests both Kickstarter and In-Q-Tel has gotta be, uh, interesting.
"Experience laser accurate Augmented Reality. Measure & model the outside world, fast. Develop immersive laser based smartphone apps.
"Spike is the world’s first laser accurate smartphone accessory.
"With Spike you can snap, measure, map, 3D model (& share) any object up to 600 feet away.
"Just by taking a snapshot of it on your smartphone!"
"A New Zealand company funded by the U.S. intelligence community’s venture capital arm, In-Q-Tel, has built a smartphone technology called Spike that lets anyone take precise measurements of — and make 3D models of — anything in the outside world.
"Spike lets you take a smartphone snapshot of something at up to 200 yards away, and then measure, map and 3D model it — and share it — all within its app. Spike includes a laser-based hardware device that attaches to your phone. It also includes compass, camera, and GPS technology.
"The product targets architects, engineers, interior designers, film set locators, insurance appraisers, underwriter/valuers, commercial painters, and arborists, among others.
"The company, Ike, has raised $8.5 million so far, including from In-Q-tel, the Congress-backed venture arm that invests in technology companies on behalf of the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. New Zealand venture capital firm No 8 Ventures has also invested.
"Until now, the company has specialized in augmented reality technology — offering both hardware and software — for the intelligence, defense, and emergency management industries. But two days ago, it launched Spike to open up its augmented reality and 3D technology to any smartphone user...."
