Online clothes shoppers will be told exactly what size is best. for them using new software which combines with their web camera or smart phone to form a"3D tape measure". Scientists from Surrey University and design experts from the London College of Fashion are developing a program which can take precise   waist, hip, chest and other measurements from camera images. Using the person's height as a starting point,the software will be able to build up a 3D image and estimate their size at various different points on the body, based on their overall proportions. The result will be a more accurate sizing guide than previous systems based on waist size or a "small/medium/large"scale, which rely on limited measurements and the buyer's perception of their own body size. Shoppers and retailers who choose to sign up for the project could save millions of pounds a year in postage costs by removing the need to order multiple sizes of the same garment  and send back ill-fitting clothes, researchers claimed. The project, sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC), is expected to be brought to market within two years. After choosing an item, the shopper will activate the software, enter their height, stand in front of their webcam or smart phone in their underwear and take a photograph. The software will not store or transmit the image to the internet, but will use it to judge the person's dimensions at various points on their body. Philip Delamore of the London College of Fashion said:"The potential benefits for the fashion industry and for shoppers are huge. Currently, it's common for online shoppers to order two or three different sizes of the same item of clothing at the same time, as they're unsure which one will fit best." What is the essential part of a 3D tape measure?
a software a webcam a microphone a smart phone