I just learned from web guru Mike Seyfang (http://mikeseyfang.com) about a very cool piece of software: Video Trace.
It lets you create 3D representations of objects appearing in videos, for example a car, or the Sydney Opera House.
Both of these examples are in the great demo video here:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=vda2RAEuW_g

You use your mouse to roughly trace over the different planes or surfaces or sides of the object.
Including curves.
Then the program estimates how the image would look in 3D, and renders it for you in 3D.
 
They talk about it as a workflow-type tool for graphics, architecture etc.
I'm thinking: what about advertising?
How about turning still photos of models wearing fashion products into little 3D animations?
Would that be a valuable way of bringing the merchandise to life?

How about turning 2D shots of housefronts into 3D animations.......
could that help real estate agents sell more houses? 

Video Trace talk about it as a workflow application for games developers and the graphics industry etc
Check it out and let me know what you think.
I'm thinking: mashup with Tagmotion to create 3D video catalogs (of fashion products, home furnishings and high ticket items).