Software specialist Occipital recently got into the hardware game with the help of PrimeSense, a company that created technology used in the original Microsoft Kinect. Together, the two have come up with a new product called the Structure Sensor - a portable 3D sensor designed to give mobile devices the ability to capture and understand the world in three dimensions.

Structure works by capturing a pattern of invisible, laser-projected light which allows the user to measure thousands of distances at once. The actual camera was designed to securely latch onto an iPad and connects to an iPad through the Lightning connector.

It is machined from a single piece of high-grade anodized aluminum that serves as a nice looking exterior and a thermal core that keeps the internal optics at an acceptable temperature. The Sensor packs its own battery that can supply up to four hours of active use and 1,000+ hours of standby. What's more, it won't drain the battery from your iPad.

So what exactly can you do with the Structure Sensor? Well, you're pretty much limited by your own creativity but the Kickstarter page does offer up some useful scenarios. For example, if you were planning to remodel your living room, you could scan the empty space and have every measurement in your pocket as you go out to shop for new furniture. Taking it a step further, one could 3D scan an end table and see exactly how it would look in the room.

The device is being marketed to developers that are interested in building mobile applications. With 44 days left in the campaign, Structure Sensor is well on its way to surpass the $100,000 goal as more than $50,000 has been pledged thus far today from 164 backers. A pledge of $329 will get your name on the list when the units ship starting February 2014.