Video: Epson and 3M create the 0.3-mm spokesmodel, eating disorders skyrocket

The technology behind this display might not be new, but the approach to demonstrating it is absolutely captivating. Good thing too because the idea here is to combine Epson's rear-projection technology with 3M's 0.3-mm thin Vikuiti film to project talking avatars on shop windows in a bid to lure lusty nerd-boys and impressionable Cosmo-girls in for a closer look. Check it after the break courtesy of Impress.

[glenskey @ Jul 9th 2009 4:15AM]

legendary thomas. legendary.

[OneLove @ Jul 9th 2009 10:39AM]

I'd hit it.

(hack that thing and make her topless)

[Dextro @ Jul 9th 2009 4:17AM]

I saw this at a 3M conference a few months ago. Nothing spectacular really.
The one I saw was holding 2 round things at boobie-height ... really awkward.
... and they were spinning.

PS: it was motion sensor equipped. So when someone approached it started doing it's sales-pitch

[Freakin Ijit @ Jul 9th 2009 6:21AM]

I prefer the ones that simply project the video onto a white mannequin head - full 3D appearance

=====

For some reason, the video here reminded me of Blade Runner - strongly.

[Fred @ Jul 9th 2009 4:26AM]

Least impressive thing I've seen all week. It looks awkward and useless, and premium priced. Pass.

[onewordanthem @ Jul 9th 2009 4:27AM]

Definitely better than some life-size cardboard stand-up with a blank expressionless mug.

[AbbasJin @ Jul 10th 2009 2:10PM]

ditto :P
and the applications for such a technology are ..erm .. many.

[Sam hitch @ Jul 9th 2009 4:35AM]

thing looks freaky

[andymac @ Jul 9th 2009 4:38AM]

Another crap-gadget entry..I wonder if she'll plug in to my USB port?

[PhotoFre@k @ Jul 9th 2009 5:02AM]

I just wet myself a little.

[The Mad Mule @ Jul 9th 2009 5:14AM]

lol check out that old fella that's staring below her waistline in the picture =P

[NeoJew @ Jul 9th 2009 9:13AM]

From his perspective she's just a very sexy line.

[Bones3D @ Jul 9th 2009 5:27AM]

This might be impressive if it moved outside of it's original silhouette footprint into the open air around it. As it is, it just looks like a standee cutout with a projector pointed at it which only animates small sections of the entire image.

[Bad Beaver @ Jul 9th 2009 5:40AM]

Darn, don't cut the film to shape but make it a little larger. There you have your room for movement.

[Wwhat @ Jul 9th 2009 9:11AM]

Yeah she does look a bit cramped trying to not move a millimerer in any direction, makes me feel uncomfortable to see it, and that is not a good sales pitch, making people feel uncomfortable in that way.

[br4nd0nh347 @ Jul 9th 2009 9:33AM]

Then it would be a regular video billboard, it'll lose it's essence.

[Jaspa @ Jul 9th 2009 7:08AM]

ive seen that "display-technology" some years ago in a local bank... semi-transparent screen and a wall-mounted beamer.... nothing spectacular at all... only thing here is the cut out screen wich fits to the shape of the woman...

[Wwhat @ Jul 9th 2009 9:14AM]

We know, we weren't born yesterday and are engadget readers, we've seen projectors.

I'm sorry for once again speaking for all commenters, but I feel confident that I'm within bounds this time.

[Bird @ Jul 9th 2009 12:59PM]

Wwhat:

What you said was totally out of bounds! Geez, the nerve you have...

[Wwhat @ Jul 9th 2009 7:53PM]

D:

[Miker @ Jul 9th 2009 6:44AM]

Supersine in the UK were doing this masked projection onto 3M film for Harrods back in April 2007:

http://www.ssdm.co.uk/News/harrods.html

[bombgigitty @ Jul 9th 2009 8:53AM]

What if she had one of those big Long Island hair dos the image would be outside of the borders, blinding the consumer.

[edgar wong @ Jul 9th 2009 9:27AM]

soon to be featured in see through manaquins for pron

[Aaron C-T @ Jul 9th 2009 9:28AM]

Her foot goes through the floor.

[Rob @ Jul 9th 2009 9:39AM]

I saw something like that at the Mall of America. It was a Best Buy ad for the new store they opened there.

[InfinityPlusOne @ Jul 9th 2009 9:47AM]

I remember seeing that Best Buy ad. It was cool to look at (and at the time I was really tempted to draw on a moustache with permanent marker) but how does this qualify as news?

[nicleT @ Jul 9th 2009 10:17AM]

Poor 2D girl :(

[Rick V @ Jul 9th 2009 10:50AM]

Well played Thomas!

Thank you for my morning chuckle.

[djmanoloco @ Jul 9th 2009 1:43PM]

"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."

[NeCrO63276 @ Jul 9th 2009 2:36PM]

is it me or does this look like 3mm rather than 0 POINT 3mm? i don't think a 0.3mm sheet of plastic would be able to stand up like that...

[eric @ Jul 9th 2009 5:59PM]

It's talking about a .3mm film that's put on the plastic cutout. The cutout is probably just a stand to stick the film to.

[Christopher Miller @ Jul 10th 2009 10:16AM]

Vizoo in Denmark have been doing the same kind of thing for years (and selling it all over the place): they call their technology VideoLogo. They have a bunch of other trompe l'oeil video systems as well.

[AbbasJin @ Jul 10th 2009 2:22PM]

i thought the 'whole plastic component' was like an LCD display.... i'm a n00b in this technology , so i don't know why are they making such a big thing out of this .3 mm film if there's this project (at the back, in teh video) running the show. can anybody enlighten please?