A unique chip called NCI (nanophotonic coherent imager) with a laser beam aimed at an object can create its three-dimensional image. This is also done with the technology of Light Detection And Ranging (abbreviated LIDAR). The NCI chip is characterized by tiny sizes (less than one square millimeter), which allows it to be installed in any mobile device, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet or a portable camera.

For the sake of fairness, we note that the NCI chip is only a prototype and can scan only small objects in the 3D format. But the creator in the plans to complete the development of the chip, which in the final version will be able to digitize and large objects. When a new chip finds its application in mobile electronics, it is still unknown. But we can quite expect the appearance of smartphones with 3D scanners in the coming years, given that the Internet giant Google is already working on a similar project called Project Tango .