12/8/2004 The prototype Cast/Foot scanner, RadScan was successfully calibrated and produced valid data. This scanner will be in test and is expected to be sold to end users for $1000.00. by the first quarter of 2005. Using a revolutionary concept, RadScan provides planter surface scans to OreTek Client, and OreTek Client/Server sites.

12/3/2004 Patent approved by the USPTO. OreTek's milling operations have been accepted by the US Patent and Trademark office after more than 4 years of waiting for approval.

August 24, 2002 - Added compatibility with Sharpshape Scanners. (More info)
After several requests for compatibility with other Scanners, the first of 3 already existant scanners have been added. Interestingly, SharpShape's datastructure was quite easily understood, at least enough to extract scanned data. As for the quality of scan, the value of compatibility with AOMS has yet to be completed. Also planned additions are Bergmann, Benefoot, and other systems.

SharpShape in-depth analysis

The structure as evaluated has 3 sections:

Header - 4 lines of integers
Matrix - array [100,80] of altitudes measured in inches
footer - 16 lines of integers

Of primary importance is the matrix, as the rest of the data appears to be calculated from the matrix. The orientation appears to be inverted from expected but easily translatable to other formats. Of the sample data acquired, the header appears to consist entirely of integers, in one case, all 1000, and in another, all 3000. The meaning of these values is likely irrelevent. The footer appears to have geometric values, but these values are irrelevent in the conversion. Of a higher concern than anything else is the accuracy of the scanned data. With a limited source of data, Biofoams appear to scatter towards the top, or the top of the biofoam itself is intentionally distorted for some reason. The plaster cast data appears easier to process, but given the processes run on the cast itself it is quite likely that much of the usable biomechanical data is lost simply because it is cut out of the cast prior to scanning.

Noted necessary additions to the aoms2ot utility is the following:

Biofoam scans need to be pruned to eliminate the non-casted area and the resultant scan of the biofoam leaves room for questions about the accuracy of the scanner. Upon completion, the code required to clean up the scan data will likely be shared with SharpShape as a good faith gesture.
Plaster casts seem ok, but are trimmed rather excessively in the sample data