ZSpace (company)

zSpace, Inc. is an American technology firm based in San Jose, California that delivers virtual and augmented reality experiences in STEM, CTE, and career readiness programs from a computer. zSpace mostly provides AR/VR technology to the education market, allowing teachers and learners to interact with simulated objects in virtual environments. {{cite news , last1=Fittes , first1=Emma Kate , date=May 18, 2022 , title=Staff Writer , url=https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/virtual-augmented-reality-company-zspace-going-public-spac/ , access-date=20 June 2022{{cite web , last=Knight , first=Will , title=A Display That Makes Interactive 3-D Seem Mind-Bogglingly Real , url=http://www.technologyreview.com/view/508991/a-display-that-makes-interactive-3-d-seem-mind-bogglingly-real/ , access-date=1 July 2013 , work=MIT Technology Review{{cite web , last=Wilson , first=Mark , title=zSpace: A Real Holographic Display Worthy Of Iron Man , url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670251/zspace-a-real-holographic-display-worthy-of-iron-man#1 , access-date=1 July 2013 , work=Fast Company{{cite web , last=Johnson , first=Eric , title=heap Mobile Games? Bah! Meet zSpace's $4,000 3-D Monitor. , url=http://allthingsd.com/20130423/cheap-mobile-games-bah-meet-zspaces-4000-3-d-monitor/ , access-date=1 July 2013 , work=AllThingsD

zSpace does not require the use of a head-mounted display. Users experience 3D content through a 3D computer screen, aided by head-tracking technology and a stylus. The hardware switches between the left and right images through a circularly polarized light that enters the eye.{{cite journal , last1=Petrov , first1=Plamen D. , last2=Atansova , first2=Tatiana V. , title=The Effect of Augmented Reality on Students' Learning Performance in Stem Education , journal=Information , date=April 15, 2020 , volume=11 , issue=4 , page=209 , doi=10.3390/info11040209 , doi-access=free In legacy models, eyewear contains small reflective tabs that the computer uses to track where users are looking.{{cite news , last1=Catalano , first1=Frank , title=From virtual reality to ebooks, the future of digital media in schools is a total toss-up , url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/virtual-reality-ebooks-future-digital-media-schools-total-toss/ , access-date=15 September 2022 , publisher=GeekWire , date=June 30, 2018 New models are equipped with head tracking technology and do not require any glasses or eyewear.{{cite press release , last1=zSpace , title=zSpace Launches New Inspire Editions to the zSpace Learning Station Family , url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zspace-launches-new-inspire-editions-to-the-zspace-learning-station-family-301467524.html , website=PR Newswire , publisher=zSpace , access-date=20 June 2022

Paul Kellenberger is the company's current CEO and president.{{cite web , title=Executive Team , url=https://zspace.com/about , website=zSpace , access-date=24 June 2022

History

zSpace was founded as Infinite Z in 2007. Infinite Z's virtual-holographic platform was created with backing from the Central Intelligence Agency's In-Q-Tel fund, which invests in technology startups.{{cite web, last=Henn, first=Steve, title=In-Q-Tel: The CIA's Tax-Funded Player In Silicon Valley, website=NPR.org , url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/07/16/156839153/in-q-tel-the-cias-tax-funded-player-in-silicon-valley, publisher=NPR, access-date=1 July 2013 Infinite Z formally changed its name to zSpace in 2013.

In November 2012, zSpace released an independent software development kit.

In the same year, zSpace collaborated with researchers at the University of Tokyo to develop a high-speed gesture tracking system. The technology is used in hospitals by surgeons before procedures.

In 2014, zSpace collaborated with NASA to be tested as an interface technology for future robots, using the program to interact with simulated objects in virtual environments using imaging displays.

Although the initial target markets for zSpace were enterprise-based,{{cite web , last=Johnson , first=Eric , title=heap Mobile Games? Bah! Meet zSpace's $4,000 3-D Monitor. , url=http://allthingsd.com/20130423/cheap-mobile-games-bah-meet-zspaces-4000-3-d-monitor/ , access-date=1 July 2013 , work=AllThingsD company employees and customers began to recognize the potential for zSpace in education, including K-12, higher education and career and technical education (CTE).{{cite news , last1=Pierce , first1=Dennis , title=zSpace takes 3D learning to a whole new level , url=https://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/02/12/zspace-3d-learning-996/2/ , access-date=24 June 2022 , publisher=eSchool News , date=12 February 2014

In September 2015, zSpace announced a partnership with Leopoly, a 3D content provider and modelling platform, to create an application that enabled users to create and customize digital objects for 3D printing. That same year, the company released an updated version of its desktop all-in-one system, zSpace for Education. The new platform allowed users to manipulate an array of virtual, 3D objects including building circuitry and experimenting with gravity. The release included approximately 250 STEAM (science, technology, art and math) lesson plans aligned to the Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and other state standards for K-12 education.{{cite web, url=http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/11/17/virtual-reality-solution-953/, title=3D, Virtual Reality Platform Also Promotes Collaboration, date=November 17, 2015, first=Laura, last=Devaney, publisher=eSchool News, access-date=December 18, 2016

In January 2016, zSpace released a VR web browser it developed in partnership with Google Chrome's WebGL team. zSpace and GeoGebra announced the release of VR Math in February 2016 with subjects like geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, graphing, statistics and calculus. At the ISTE conference in June 2016, zSpace announced Human Anatomy Atlas content in partnership with Visible Body. The company also announced that it had partnered with Google to combine zSpace's VR technology with the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program. Beginning that same year, zSpace demonstrated its technology to schools across the country via its Mobile Classroom Tour. The tour allows K-12 students around the country to engage with the company's STEAM applications in a lab setting and experience a variety of different simulations.

The company partnered with Shenzhen GTA Education Tech Ltd., and Mimbus in 2017 on automotive training and welding applications.{{cite web , title=zSpace Expands CTE Offerings with Auto Training Program , url=https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/06/29/zspace-expands-cte-offerings-with-auto-training-program.aspx , website=Campus Technology , access-date=28 August 2018 , language=en{{cite web , title=zSpace Teams with Mimbus to Bring Augmented Reality to Welding Students , url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/11/29/zspace-teams-with-mimbus-to-bring-augmented-reality-to-welding-students.aspx , website=The Journal , access-date=28 August 2018 , language=en In 2018, zSpace announced integration with Autodesk Tinkercad as well as a partnership with Merriam-Webster's online dictionary.{{cite web , title=zSpace, Autodesk Make Tinkercad Designs Immersive , url=https://www.flatpyramid.com/zspace-autodesk-make-tinkercad-designs-immersive/ , website=FlatPyramid , access-date=28 August 2018{{cite web , title=Increased access to definitions, meanings and pronunciations in AR/VR , url=https://www.districtadministration.com/news/increased-access-definitions-meanings-and-pronunciations-arvr , website=District Administration Magazine , access-date=28 August 2018 , date=2 July 2018

At ISTE 2018, zSpace released its first Windows 10 laptop for schools.{{cite news , last1=Fink , first1=Charlie , title=The Biggest AR Company You've Never Heard Of , url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/charliefink/2018/06/25/the-biggest-ar-company-youve-never-heard-of/?sh=504d658282a0 , access-date=15 September 2022 , work=Forbes , date=June 25, 2018 In 2019, zSpace added Career and Technical Education (CTE) to its roster of applications, which prepares students for certifications and supplementary trainings through VR learning.

In 2022, zSpace announced a merger with EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corporation II (Nasdaq: EDTXU, EDTX, and EDTXW) (“EdtechX II”), an edtech-focused SPAC. As a result of the merger, the combined company is expected to be named zSpace Technologies, Inc. and listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the new ticker symbol ZSPX.{{cite press release , last1=EdtechX Holdings , title=zSpace, Inc., a Leading Augmented and Virtual Reality Educational Technology Platform for K-12 and Workforce Development, to Become Publicly Traded Through a Combination with EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corp. II , url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/05/17/2444729/0/en/zSpace-Inc-a-Leading-Augmented-and-Virtual-Reality-Educational-Technology-Platform-for-K-12-and-Workforce-Development-to-Become-Publicly-Traded-Through-a-Combination-with-EdtechX-H.html?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_V9WjElQNIJeyU2UKKotjvnOhyQC-EWk36iWcM2K1JrvvZMsP4Yjs3utrhFOeyA6mrRgTE , website=GlobeNewswire , date=17 May 2022 , publisher=GlobeNewswire , access-date=15 September 2022

In December 2024, the company went public via an initial public offering on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "ZSPC".

In March 2025, zSpace acquired Blockscad, a browser-based 3D design and coding platform used in K–12 STEM education. The integration is intended to expand zSpace’s offerings in computer science and design thinking curricula.

In April 2025, zSpace announced the acquisition of Second Avenue Learning, a company that develops interactive digital content for education. This acquisition supports the company’s development of standards-aligned content for AR/VR instruction.

Product

Hardware

In January 2025, zSpace Introduced the Imagine AR/VR laptop. The Imagine was developed specifically for elementary-level education. It offers a simplified user experience and lightweight design, and integrates with interactive educational software and standards-aligned content.

In December 2024, zSpace introduced the Inspire 2 and Inspire 2 Pro. The ''Inspire 2 Series'' is an updated version of the Inspire platform, featuring performance enhancements and increased portability. Like earlier models, Inspire 2 supports AR/VR learning without requiring a headset or glasses and includes face-tracking technology and a haptic stylus.

zSpace's origional Inspire and Inspire Pro were launched in January 2022{{cite web , title=zSpace Launches New Inspire Editions to the zSpace Learning Station Family , url=https://zspace.com/newsroom/zspace-launches-new-inspire-editions-to-the-zspace-learning-station-family , website=zSpace , access-date=15 September 2022 which allows users to experience AR/VR without a head-mounted display (HMD) or glasses. The system includes integrated face-tracking technology, a haptic-feedback stylus, and a stylus sensor module, which tracks the position of the stylus to create the AR/VR experience. It runs on a Windows 11 Operating System with a 15.6-inch, Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 pixel display, a NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card, and face-tracking cameras.

The AIO (All-in-One) and AIO Pro, launched in 2015,{{cite news , last1=Riddell , first1=Roger , title=9 ed tech developments to note from ISTE 2015 , url=https://www.k12dive.com/news/9-ed-tech-developments-to-note-from-iste-2015/401879/ , access-date=15 September 2022 , publisher=K-12Dive , date=July 7, 2015 was geared towards users running performance-heavy applications, such as software developers, designers and CTE students and professionals. The AIO includes a haptic-feedback stylus and eyewear which is tracked by technology built into the display. The system has a 24-inch display, runs on Windows 10 and has an Intel i3 or i7 processor.

The zSpace Laptop used the same basic technology of the AIO products, requiring specialized eyewear and the haptic-feedback stylus. The processor was an AMD 7th generation APU that combines the CPU cache and discrete class Radeon GPU on the same chip die.

Recognition

The company's technology has been awarded Tech & Learning's "Best in Show" at the ISTE conference from 2015 to 2019 and the magazine's "Award in Excellence" in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In 2016, zSpace was named one of the 5 most innovative and fast-growing companies in America by ''Inc. magazine'' while also ranking 143 on the Inc. 5000 list and second in the Silicon Valley Business Journal. In 2017, zSpace ranked #305 on '' Inc.'s'' 5000 lists.{{cite web , title=Spread the Word: zSpace Is No. 305 on the Inc. 5000 This Year! , url=https://www.inc.com/profile/zspace , website=Inc.com , access-date=28 August 2018 , language=en

As of 2019, zSpace operates in more than 1,500 school districts, community colleges and universities to over 1 million students.{{cite web , last1=Fink , first1=Charlie , title=The Biggest AR Company You've Never Heard Of , url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/charliefink/2018/06/25/the-biggest-ar-company-youve-never-heard-of/#4965e10f282a , website=Forbes , access-date=28 August 2018 , language=en{{cite web , title=zSpace Unveils its AR/VR Laptop Designed for Education , url=https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/06/zspace-unveils-its-arvr-laptop-designed-for-education/ , website=VRFocus , access-date=28 August 2018 zSpace was recognized on the 2019 ''Fast Company'' list for the "World's Most Innovative Companies" in Education. The zSpace Laptop won the 2019 Edison Award in Edutech and the Cool Tool Award for Best VR/AR Solution by EdTech. It was named one of three Grand Prize Winners for Tech & Learning's "Awards of Excellence" for 2019. zSpace was recognized as one of the "100 Best Inventions of 2019" by ''Time''.{{cite web, url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2019/5734536/zspace-ar-vr-laptop/, title=Safer School Experiments, publisher=Time

See also

{{Portalbar, Companies, Telecommunication, Electronics, Technology

References

{{reflist, 2

{{AR and VR
{{Stereoscopy

Technology companies established in 2007
Companies based in San Jose, California
Display technology companies
Virtual reality companies
Technology companies of the United States
American companies established in 2007
2007 establishments in California
Computer companies of the United States
Computer hardware companies
Computer systems companies
Companies listed on the Nasdaq
2024 initial public offerings