In 2013, three Arts et Métiers engineers specializing in simulation and virtual reality had the idea of creating the company Paztec. For four years now, they have been developing applications for smartphones and tablets.
Heritage, architecture, and industry are at the heart of their mobile device combining 3D and augmented reality. We take a look at Paztec's first four years with Guillaume Lemeunier and Étienne Duranton, two of the company's three founders.
A project initiated atthe Image Institute
Arts et Métiers Why did you decide to start your own company, Paztec?
Étienne Duranton: During my studies at Arts et Métiers my time on the Paris campus, I took a program to raise awareness about starting a business. So after three years at a video game company and a year in Estonia, I felt the need to start my own business, and I talked to Guillaume and Alexandre [YOS, third founder] about it. Together, we came up with an innovative idea and identified a need...
Guillaume Lemeunier: … and we seized the opportunity to continue the research work undertaken by the Cluny Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers the Institut Image in Chalon-sur-Saône. Among other things, this work involved developing a smartphone tour of the town of Cluny. When I was working on this project, I saw that there was a market for it. At the end of the research project, it seemed natural to me to continue in the form of a business.
We are shifting our focus from research to commercial development.
From "tailor-made" to a solution that can be used by all customers
Arts et Métiers What are your plans for the future?
G.L.: Right now, we're working on a 3D tour solution that can be used by a larger number of users. Until now, we've been creating "customized" products such as the tour of the city of Cluny, "CluneTour".
E.D.: We are shifting our focus from research to commercial development. The Clunypedia project remains our guiding principle. As part of our partnership with the European Federation of Cluniac Sites, we are exporting the solution developed in Cluny to other Cluniac sites in Europe. The aim is to promote Romanesque heritage and design scientific, tourist, and recreational applications.
G.L.: We are also compiling a 3D catalog for industry and museums: a catalog promoting or marketing digitized products or objects.
Valuable educational support
Arts et Métiers What did your Arts et Métiers training bring you Arts et Métiers
G.L.: Our training at Arts et Métiers broad enough to allow us to pursue a variety of fields, including highly specialized ones. When I started, I wanted to go into mechanics. As I took on the projects we worked on over the three years of study, I choseto specialize in digital modeling and virtual immersion. The training at Arts et Métiers a certain versatility and experience that allows you to find your path.
E.D.: For my part, I was aiming for Georgia Tech, and once I was enrolled, several options opened up for me. It was meeting and talking with the teachers that led me to choose the field of virtual imaging over others. And today, I'm happy to have met the right people.
Follow Guillaume Lemeunier, Head of Management and Artistic Director, Étienne Duranton, Android and prototype developer, and Alexandre Yos, head of R&D and iOS developer, on their website.
