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Minority Report gets real: Multi-touch hologram
Anyone who's seen Minority Report would love a piece of the hologram technology that Tom Cruise uses to flip through holographic images in the air like they were CDs in a jukebox. Obscura Digital has something that's pretty close. The company's new VisionAire tech can sense where a presenter's hands are, letting him or her manipulate a 3D hologram. The holograms are multi-touch, too, so you can zoom, spin or shrink images by using both hands — just like Microsoft Surface (though in this case, surfaceless).
VisionAire uses the Musion Eyeliner holographic projection system, implementing Obscura's proprietary multi-touch tech. The result is unquestionably cool but requires a significant amount of space and cash to pull off, so it would be strictly for big events for now. For something similar but probably more affordable, you might try a Heliodisplay.
Obscura Digital's "Out of the Lab" Blog, via Gizmodo
By Yaos at 7:09 PM ON 08/05/08
We have holograms and nobody told me? :argh:
By RG at 5:28 AM ON 08/06/08
It's not really a hologram, it uses an illusion called "Pepper's ghost".
All they have is the performer behind a glass which is positioned at an angle. Then they use the projector to project the image onto that glass.
This means the viewer will see the person behind the glass and the project image, but it will seam that the images are coming from all around the person. Whilst the person using it actually doesn't see any hologram at all.
By yourthirdeye at 12:13 PM ON 08/07/08
This is some really exciting tech. The reason we don't have holograms like those in Minority Report and Paycheck is that we have yet to develop a holographic projector that can project images on two planes. If this really is a projector than it projects images on the X plane, think of it as you are standing in front of a wall with your nose touching the plaster. The HelioDisplay however seems to be able to project images on the Y axis, think of it as you staring at the sharp end of a razor blade. If you put these two together you should be able produce a cross section of any given image, stake several cross sections and viola! You have a 3D image.
By realitycheck at 2:45 AM ON 08/17/08
Interesting technology, but I'm not impressed. When we start using the real deal, sign me up.
Not to Mr. Pachal: Clearly you have a bad memory of Minority Report. Tom Cruise's character was not interacting with holograms; rather he was working with clear screen technology. Those screens were very physical as demonstrated when he docked the portable device and transferred the image. Enough of my nit-pick, but I do like to call a duck a duck if you know what I mean.
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Interesting technology, but I'm not impressed. When we start using the real deal, sign me up. Not to Mr. Pachal...More »