Meanwhile, UK-based company Thruvision has developed a scanning device that emits no radiation at all.

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And Nikon Instruments is providing his team with a fascinating all-in-one cell incubator and scanning device to make it happen.

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So he devised a locker-style device that required scanning membership cards to receive towels.

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Some of the newer digital models have 360-degree scanning, for example, which allows the device to scan automatically for a dominant voice say, the back-seat driver and emphasize the sound coming from there.

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Still in its early prototype stages, the device is an attempt to do for 3D scanning what the Replicator and its ilk have done for printing -- i.e. democratize the process in such a way that makes it affordable and user-friendly enough to make it an appealing prospect for hobbyists and later consumers.

ENGADGET

Even with such a small number of electrodes that allowed for a small patch of vision, patients unexpectedly said they found the device useful by moving their heads back and forth and scanning the environment, said Dr. Greenberg.

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The portability of the device means it is likely to have a use outside hospitals - allowing scanning to be done wherever its needed, in the home or perhaps for the military - on the battlefield.

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Cardio allows users to make payments by "scanning" the front of their credit card using the camera on an Android or Apple iOS device.

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