David Fattal is the CEO and founder at Leia, the main supplier of glasses-free 3D show {hardware} and software program options. He beforehand spent 9 years at HP Labs engaged on varied elements of quantum computing and photonics, and specializing within the manipulation of sunshine on the nanoscale. He holds a PhD in Physics from Stanford College and a BS in theoretical physics from Ecole Polytechnique, France.
Fattal holds over 100 granted patents and was featured on the 2013 record of 35 Innovator below 35 by the MIT know-how Overview. He co-authored the text-book “Single Photon Gadgets and Purposes” and was awarded the French Nationwide Order of Benefit in 2014 for creating the “Diffractive Lightfield Backlighting” idea.
As a former analysis scientist at HP Labs within the Quantum Science Analysis Crew and a specialist in Nano-Photonics, are you able to share some key highlights out of your expertise?
Throughout my time at HP Labs, I centered on the intersection of quantum computing and nano-photonics, exploring how mild manipulation on the nanoscale might revolutionize communication applied sciences. A key spotlight was Undertaking Leia, the place we developed diffractive mild discipline backlighting know-how and superior the sphere of 3D shows past conventional strategies. This work laid the muse for the progressive show applied sciences we now use at Leia Inc.
What impressed the inception of Undertaking Leia, and the way did an opportunity commentary throughout a hearth drill at HP Labs result in the invention of utilizing nano-structures for creating holographic photographs?
Undertaking Leia drew inspiration from applied sciences used within the discipline of optical interconnects, which offers with changing electrical alerts with mild alerts inside pc chips. Throughout a hearth drill at HP Labs, I observed the intricate patterns shaped by mild passing by certainly one of our “mild on a chip” prototypes. This commentary led to utilizing nano-structures to deliberately bend mild equally, in the end enabling the creation of holographic photographs. This serendipitous second sparked the event of the diffractive light-field backlighting know-how central to Leia Inc.
How does Leia Inc.’s know-how convert 2D experiences into immersive 3D experiences on any system?
Leia Inc.’s know-how leverages superior optics and AI to remodel 2D experiences into 3D.
- Our LeiaSR optical know-how can improve any private system display screen and provides it the flexibility to ship totally different photographs to the viewer’s left and proper eyes, thereby making a high-quality 3D impact. The 3D optics will be switched off on demand, permitting commonplace 2D content material to show at full decision.
- Our Neural Depth Expertise, powering the Immersity AI platform, can convert any 2D image or video into 3D. Customers don’t have to have a 3D show to see the results of the conversion.
- The mixture of display screen conversion and content material conversion provides us this distinctive means to create immersive 3D experiences at this time on any acquainted system, from cell telephones to pc screens.
How does the Neural Depth Engine within the Immersity AI platform contribute to producing exact depth maps for 3D content material?
The Neural Depth Engine is a state-of-the-art neural community fine-tuned on thousands and thousands of 3D photographs collected by Leia-equipped units within the discipline. Because of this proprietary coaching dataset, it might probably create very exact depth maps from 2D photographs.
The higher your depth maps are, the higher outcomes you get in functions like smartphone picture enhancements and 3D imaging. When you’re accustomed to the background blur (bokeh) portrait mode, then you definately may need an unknown appreciation for depth maps.
Depth maps are additionally used for issues like photogrammetry, creating 3D fashions of real-world objects from a number of images, and may also be utilized in medical imaging.
What industries may gain advantage probably the most from Leia Inc.’s 2D-to-3D conversion know-how, and the way?
A number of industries can profit considerably from our 2D-to-3D conversion know-how. Social media creators and influencers can improve their content material by providing extra partaking experiences that join them with their group. The media and promoting trade can create extra fascinating ads that stand out from their competitors. Filmmakers and recreation builders can present audiences with a richer and extra immersive visible expertise. Moreover, the design trade, together with picture and video modifying professionals, can use our know-how so as to add depth and dimension to their tasks, leading to extra compelling and dynamic visuals.
How does the 3D overlay know-how utilized by Leia Inc. make sure that 2D picture high quality shouldn’t be compromised when the 3D mode is inactive?
We designed our 3D overlay know-how to be non-intrusive. When the 3D mode is inactive, the nanostructures used for 3D rendering change into just about invisible, sustaining the unique 2D picture high quality with none degradation.
Are you able to describe a real-world software or mission the place Leia Inc.’s 3D know-how has been efficiently applied?
We’re powering ZTE’s first cellular 3D pill, the Nubia Pad, launched in 2023, and Acer’s first skilled creator 3D laptop computer, launched the identical yr.
How does Leia Inc. collaborate with corporations like ACER and ZTE to combine their 3D show know-how into shopper units?
We carefully collaborate with corporations like ACER and ZTE by offering our 3D {hardware} and software program options, technical help, and integration providers. This partnership ensures that our 3D know-how is seamlessly embedded into their units, providing customers a singular and enhanced consumer expertise.
How does Leia Inc. guarantee user-friendly interfaces and seamless integration of their 3D know-how for on a regular basis customers and professionals alike?
We prioritize intuitive design and consumer expertise in our know-how improvement. Our SDKs and software program instruments are simple to combine, with intensive documentation and help for builders. Our interfaces are simple for customers, guaranteeing seamless and user-friendly switching between 2D and 3D modes.
What future developments can we count on from Leia Inc. within the discipline of 3D show know-how and immersive AI experiences?
Leia Inc. is constantly innovating. Future developments will concentrate on enhancing our AI algorithms for much more practical 3D conversions, increasing our system compatibility, and exploring new functions within the cellular and prolonged actuality (XR) area. We goal to make immersive 3D experiences extra accessible and impactful throughout varied industries.
Thanks for the good interview, readers who want to study extra ought to go to Leia.