Imagine going into a shoe shop and, instead of having to try on different sizes, the retailer already knows what size will fit you.

That's a future imagined by one company which says its 3D scanning service can be used to ensure you never have to try on a range of sizes again.

The technology will first be used on shoes, but will eventually be rolled out to other accessories including glasses, helmets, jeans and even earphones.

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Swedish firm Volumental is rolling out 3D scanning technology for clothes and shoes. It it proves successful, the technology could spell the end of trying on different sizes, and instead, a shop will scan your feet, and you'll be able to order shoes and other clothes that fit you perfectly

Developed by Swedish firm Volumental, based in Stockholm, the technology could revolutionise how certain items are bought.

The technology uses 3D cameras, such as Microsoft’s Kinect or Intel’s RealSense, to map a person's foot in seconds.

HOW DOES IT WORK? 3D scanning cameras, such as Microsoft’s Kinect, are used to take images of an object. The user rotates the cameras around an object, such as a foot, to get a complete view. Within seconds, the software uses ‘vision algorithms’ to process images and create a 3D model. Both the shape and colours of an object, even a body, can be described. A shop will then use that data to create bespoke items of clothing, such as shoes, in about two weeks. The software can run on any laptop, but may need to connect to Volumental’s servers via cloud technology for ‘heavy computations’. Advertisement

The cameras are connected to a computer and rotate around the foot, creating a 3D image that shows the specific shape and size.

While people have feet that are roughly of a similar size, many have different shapes that can make putting on new shoes uncomfortable.

But this technology could change that, and instead allow them to slip on a pair that instantly feels comfortable.

Co-founder Caroline Walerud told The Guardian she thought the current system of trying on lots of shoes or jeans in a store would be ‘completely gone’ in ten years.

‘Instead it will be "size me", she said.

Volumental launched a partnership with Italian shoe maker Scarosso in March this year, which allows feet to be measured ‘with millimetre precision in just a few seconds’.

Once a person's feet have been measured for the first time, their records are saved in the system for future use so they don’t need to be scanned again.

For now, the scanning must be performed in a shop. But as smartphone and tablet cameras become more advanced, the company said it will be possibly by 2017 for people to scan themselves at home (left). They could then upload their details online (right) and order clothes directly that fit them

The technology is only being used on shoes at the moment, but Volumental said the same technology could 3D scan an entire body, allowing a range of clothing to be ordered according to their measurements. Shown is an example pair of shoes, but traditional designs are also likely to be available

By autumn this year, the Scarosso store in Frankfurt will become the first to trial the new service, using cameras in the store.

But Volumental envisages that by 2017, customers will be able to use a tablet or a mobile phone at home to capture a scan of their feet - and other body parts.

To perform the heavy computation required the devices would be connected to Volumental’s servers via the cloud.