3D BODY SCAN YOU DO YOURSELF WITH A PHONE

WHEN I learned that Meepl, an app that claims to harness AI to record your measurements, required me to take my own 3D body scan using only my mobile phone, my heart sank. The last time I had a scan, it was to find how far along I was in my fifth pregnancy, and although I love my children fervently, I don’t care to do it again.

But as I downloaded the free app, I was curious to see how it worked. The instructions are brief, but when I looked it up on the Meepl website, it told me the scan would be used to create a digital ‘avatar’ that would give me a truly accurate 3D picture of my measurements.

This could then be applied to

different brands for shopping, so I never need buy the wrong size online ever again.

Although I love the idea of online shopping, I am irritated by the amount of time I spend returning clothes that are the wrong size.

I am a size 10 at M&S, Hush and Mint Velvet, but a 12/14 at Topshop and Jigsaw, which means I never know quite where I stand. I’m also tired of wrestling sticky tape, scissors and returns envelopes out of the hands of my younger children to make yet another trip to the Post Office.

So I decided to give the 3D scan app a go. I needn’t have worried — it was easy to use. I had to dress in skin-tight clothes such as leggings and a tight top, stand against a plain background, then let my phone do the work.

I asked my daughter to take the two shots the app needed — one side on, one face on, arms out to the sides — but you could easily prop the phone up on a shelf and do it yourself.

The app uses voice commands, barking at me to stand with ‘feet further apart’ in a slightly robotic accent, until I get just the right pose (right). It takes all of one minute. However, actually shopping with the app is not so easy, since it has not yet been rolled out across High Street brands in the UK.

Meepl say it is starting that in the next few weeks. I tried it out on Mountain Force, an outdoor brand where it is already in use. I pick an item on the website, click on the Meepl icon nearby, then scan a QR code with my phone. This quickly brings up a suggestion for the ideal size, based on my avatar. Even for someone slightly tech phobic, it is exceptionally easy and fast to use.

I look forward to the time it’s available on the High Street. Until then, you can try it on certain websites, such as Flying Changes and roomten. In time, I hope it will substantially decrease the amount of time I spend standing in the Post Office.