gCubik displays 3D images on 4-inch cube, we want

We've pondered the potential for 3D display cubes for years now, but the gCubik looks to bring us a bit closer to a final concept. Measuring just 10 centimeters (about four inches), this diminutive display device visualizes objects in all three dimensions on the facets of a physical cube. Created by Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), the device could see uses in science, business, and, most importantly, videogames. The little guy will be shown next month in Tokyo and then in August at Siggraph 2008 in the US, with hopes of adding tighter resolution and real-world applications shortly thereafter.

[Blaine Oliver @ Jun 11th 2008 5:26PM]

The question is, is it upgradable?

[ijyt @ Jun 11th 2008 5:29PM]

What would you need to use it for?

[Blaine Oliver @ Jun 11th 2008 5:31PM]

I love the concept, but unless i can upgrade it its one expensive linux cube.

[Alexander The Best @ Jun 11th 2008 5:26PM]

Finally the Borg have style.

[Jimmy @ Jun 11th 2008 5:31PM]

Very cool. These will make very nice desk ornaments in 10-15 years. Just gotta work on making them smaller and prettier. Cant wait!

[cclaunch @ Jun 11th 2008 5:32PM]

Not to dis what they did, but could you not just put a few 8" LCD panels together, hook them up to a computer, set up the proper POV in a 3d application, and get the same effect?

[James B @ Jun 11th 2008 5:46PM]

The LCD's would have to show different images from different angles... so no.

That idea would only work if looked at the cube from one direction (without moving) which isn't very 3D.

[Reader @ Jun 11th 2008 5:46PM]

Exact thought I just had.

[Evan @ Jun 11th 2008 5:47PM]

My thoughts exactly.

It must do something more complex than what we're reading here. Right?

[makishima @ Jun 11th 2008 6:00PM]

@James B : Actually yes. You could easily put any 3d space on the LCD panels provided the software running it was made specifically for the cube. All you need are 6 cameras in 3D space placed equidistant from the object in a cube pattern and have each camera render to a different screen.

[James Barsby @ Jun 11th 2008 6:01PM]

I think it does, thats what I meant. If you held this in your hand and rotated it, it would appear as if the object was 'inside' the box. Not just a box with six pictures stuck on the sides.

My guess is the 'pixels' on the sides emit different coloured light depending on the angle they are viewed from. If this is true it means cool stuff like invisibility devices could be developed using similar (but much more advanced) technology.

[Kurian @ Jun 11th 2008 11:16PM]

I think thats exactly what it does. Look, it has 3 vga type inputs. Its just receiving the same image from some software that is programmed to display the same "model" from different camera angles.

[Bunson @ Jun 12th 2008 1:18AM]

I agree with James. It doesn't look like just LCDS.

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 11th 2008 5:33PM]

Can you play Crysis at full frame ?

[Blaine Oliver @ Jun 11th 2008 5:39PM]

Can you fail and die?

Hopefully.

[Low Ranked @ Jun 11th 2008 5:48PM]

He already failed.

Here's to hoping for the latter.

[AxelFury @ Jun 11th 2008 5:39PM]

I guess I need to see the demo when it appears at SIGGRAPH, but it seems to be very POV dependent.

[Paulmichael @ Jun 11th 2008 5:53PM]

Hmm...I'd be hoping for much better resolution and screens that take up more of the cube. There is too much border. Still looks pretty cool though!

[TomFox @ Jun 11th 2008 5:57PM]

I'd like to see someone program a little guy that runs around inside pounding his fists on the screen like he's trapped in a little cage.

[Ayman @ Jun 12th 2008 12:22AM]

you have a twisted little mind, Mr. Fox!!...................Mohahahahaha......

[TomFox @ Jun 12th 2008 12:39AM]

*Much wringing or hands*

[tgeorg @ Jun 11th 2008 6:04PM]

Projecting images on three dimensions? Please. Now, project images on time, and maybe you're on to something

[Josh @ Jun 11th 2008 6:37PM]

Good.. but resolution needs to be ramped up to at least 640x480.

What i don't get is why they don't just use backlit LCDs since what that looks like to me is a cube with LEDs on each face. Obviously LEDs can also be shrunk down, and there's the prospect of OLEDs being commonplace in the near future.

It's a good concept though, a lot more doable than the rotating mirror job, since presumably all you need is to show an item at a different camera angle from each side?

I'm thinking Super Paper Mario and i'm thinking Fez.

[James Barsby @ Jun 11th 2008 6:58PM]

No-one here seems to understand that this works using perspective. It doesn't really matter that these screens are on a cube, one of these screens would be enough to give the 3D effect of something behind it.

Heres an example... look out of your window, find something like a tree and line it up with your hand on the glass. Now move your head, see how the tree moves away from your hand.

Now do the same thing with a picture of a tree on your LCD. Doesn't work does it.

Normal LCD's are not 3D and can only display an object from ONE ANGLE AT A TIME :0)

[Josh @ Jun 11th 2008 7:19PM]

They can still up the resolution though, which was the main point i was trying to put forward.

However, if your latter point stands - ie that if you rotate the box it would appear to be inside - then you can only view it from one angle. That would be analgous to putting a floating bead into a circular cup of water and rotating the cup. The bead stays in the same position. Thus if say the box was displaying a picture of a lemon, you could rotate the box, but the lemon would appear from the same perspective however you looked at it.

I agree with the other part though, there must be a way of showing a different image depending on the position of the observer. I imagine that it's more like a portable version of the previous inventions, and implemented better. Inside is some kind of matrix of LEDs (although the link refers to LCDs) which would allow you to see "in"to the cube. This might explain the strange edges on the screen.

[konshuss @ Jun 11th 2008 7:32PM]

it looks like it's playing a video of someone pointing their camera at a standard def tv. as much as i want to be impressed by this, it looks like nothing more than 3 properly positioned and calibrated screens that dispserse the video frame chunks in a way that line up properly with the physical bounds of the box, which of course gives the effect there's something inside the box. cleverly done nonetheless, imagine how it'd look panel-to-edge?

[Torsional @ Jun 12th 2008 12:36AM]

@ James Barsby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

hee hee.

[James Barsby @ Jun 12th 2008 2:25PM]

@Torsional - That video is great example of what this would be like. The advantage of 'this' technology is that more than one person could experience it at a time.

@Adawg2k8 - Your video wasn't as helpful... http://www.xkcd.com/396/

[stitifier @ Jun 11th 2008 7:53PM]

But what does this have to do with the iPhone?

*runs*

[Phil @ Jun 11th 2008 7:59PM]

I can envision a whole lotta people who cant wait to bring their girlfriends into the 3rd dimension.

[Josh @ Jun 11th 2008 7:48PM]

"What ports did you say this box has?"

[phanbouy @ Jun 11th 2008 10:09PM]

""What ports did you say this box has?"

aka

"Does this box have a box?"

[ak @ Jun 11th 2008 8:20PM]

the question is what can this do that glassless stereoscopic can't offer besides more hassle. sure you get 360 viewing, but having to set up for 360 viewing is a bitch.

[Adawg2k8 @ Jun 11th 2008 11:59PM]

Here's a better article explaining how it works:

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080612/153174/

"The institute realized parallax in all directions by using a structure where an LCD panel is covered with an array of lenses."

Cool video of it in action, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0&feature=related

[Bunson @ Jun 12th 2008 2:01AM]

lawl....

[Atanas Boev @ Jun 12th 2008 12:02PM]

Was also presented at 3DTV Con, Istanbul, Turkey.

[skulldriveshaft @ Jun 13th 2008 1:42AM]

The future of snow globes is now.

[hct @ Jan 4th 2009 11:12PM]

Also check out Cubee which does head-tracked fish-tank VR with a cube of screens for a 3D in-a-box effect. It also it dynamic so you can play with objects in the box - yes, the snow globe is one of our demo plans with our next version.

http://hct.ece.ubc.ca/research/cubee/index.html