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RePro3D is a 'touchable' 3D interface that lets you poke pixies (video)
The illusion of 3D is kind of ruined the moment you reach out and try and grab whatever silly thing is supposed to be protruding from the screen. Researchers at Keio University in Tokyo have started to figure out a solution to the problem, and are calling their system RePro3D. By combining a glasses-free 3D display with an infrared tactile interface, they are able to create a holographic model that responds when "touched." The next step for the team is to provide feedback via a wearable device, adding the sensation of touch to the already impressive illusion of interactivity. We do have our concerns about the researcher's motives however. One of the creators, Keitaro Shimizu, told DigInfo, "there are many attractive characters in animations and games, but since those characters only exist within the screen, it feels a little lonely..." We guess getting a girlfriend is out of the question. Check out the video after the break.
Apple '3D imaging and display' patent was cutting edge in 2005
An Apple patent for a "3D imaging and display system" staggers out into daylight after seven years buried in the USPTO. Its eyes steadily adjust to the brightness of a Kinect-dominated world and its heart sinks. But then a random guy approaches and says, "Hey little patent, what's wrong?" "I'm obsolete," comes the sullen reply. "I'm all about detecting user movements in three dimensions, but the competition has that covered. Sure, people might *think* I've patented some kind of wild holographic virtual reality stuff too, but my paperwork only mentions that in the vaguest possible terms. There's no way I can threaten Microsoft." "Nonsense!" cries the guy. "Follow me. I know a judge in Düsseldorf."
UCLA creates portable microscope that uses holograms, not lenses
Instead of lugging a heavy microscope into the field, doctors and nurses in remote regions may have a more portable choice -- a lightweight microscope that replaces lenses with holograms. Researchers at UCLA announced a prototype dual-mode microscope that's lightweight, costs between $50 and $100 to produce and is similar in size to a banana. Like a hologram that uses interfering rays to create an image, this device shines light on a sample where its sensor chip (apparently also found in iPhones and BlackBerrys) and a cloud-based software program analyze the interference pattern and reconstruct an image of the sample. Since it's dual-mode, both large samples and small samples can be analyzed through processes called "transmission" and "reflection," and doctors could potentially use their laptops or smartphones to access the images remotely. Although still considered a prototype, researchers think the development has the opportunity to revolutionize health care by allowing doctors to test things like water, blood and food. Check out the full PR after the break.
Airbus' plane of the future will harvest energy from passengers, earn Agent Smith's approval (video)
Airbus has been consulting its crystal ball recently and its findings have now been shared with the world in the shape of a new concept plane. Looking entirely detached from the economic and physical realities we know today, this futuristic people carrier includes auto-morphing seats that adjust to your size and shape and also harvest excess heat you produce. How is this achieved? Smart materials is all we're told, leaving us to use our imagination to fill in the gaping blanks. Eschewing the usual class system, this Airbus concept instead offers three functionally distinct areas: a Smart Tech Zone at the back is the closest to what we're used to today, an Interaction Zone in the middle uses holograms to help you relax or conduct some mission-critical meetings in flight, and a Vitalising Zone up front is where more "bio-morphing" seats will provide you with massage or acupuncture treatments. The ceiling in that front part of the plane can also be turned transparent, letting you soak up the panorama (and get a good tan while you're at it). You can see and hear more about it in the videos after the break.
EVE Evolved: Building a better UI
It's no secret that EVE Online has a poor user interface. With its drop-down menus for interacting with objects and text lists to show information like market orders and nearby objects in space, EVE has thoroughly earned the nickname "spreadsheets in space." The UI has changed drastically since I started playing in 2004, but in recent years, it's fallen behind the development curve. In a new devblog this week, CCP Snowlax suggested that the UI developers at CCP have lacked the framework necessary to do what they wanted with it. The existing framework had become bloated with eight years of development, and the underlying rendering engine wasn't even capable of using custom shaders. With Incursion 1.6, CCP pushed live a completely new UI framework that makes cool features like holographic UI elements possible. With the new Carbon UI framework in place, developers are taking another look at redesigning the EVE user interface. Screenshots of the new features being used in the upcoming Incarna expansion are impressive, but that's all taking place inside stations. I can't help but wonder how these new technologies could be applied to the space-faring portion of EVE and whether there are more fundamental challenges to overcome in UI design than adding flashy graphics. In this week's EVE Evolved, I give some thoughts on the development of EVE's UI, from the necessary evil of the overview to some things I'd like to see change.
British airports now beaming holographic security agents (video)
They've brought you presidential election coverage and promoted worldwide access to PCs, and now they're telling you to take off your belt and throw out your hairspray. Starting today, London Luton and Manchester airports will beam in images of holographic agents to prep passengers for the security line. Holly and Graham -- you heard right -- and Manchester's Julie and John are meant to cut queues, as well as human inconsistency. According to Luton's Glyn Jones, "Holly and Graham are not going to have a hangover; they're not going to have a row with their partner the night before." Just what we need: an army of holographic squares taking our jobs and making us all look a drunken mess in comparison. Thanks, technology. Update: So it appears these aren't traditional holograms -- they're actually huge sheets of glass that are cut out in the shape of people, with the projection beamed on them. It's the same tech that Gorillaz use on stage, made by a company called Musion. Check out another video where the camera moves around the side.
ZScape 3D holographic prints take maps to the next dimension, sans spectacles
As the video above shows, Zebra Imaging's so called ZScape prints pull off some pretty amazing 3D visual effects despite being based on old school hologram technology. These prints are made using a variety of 3D data sources -- think AutoCad and the like -- that are then rendered as thousands of holographic elements by recording laser light onto a single film-based material. The resulting images are easily viewed without glasses or spinning mirrors, and just require a run-of-the-mill halogen or LED light source to reveal 360-degree, full color representations -- akin to what a physical model might look like. Fancier versions can also be made using overlays and layering techniques to show more information. To date, over 8,000 ZScapes have already been developed for the US military, but surprisingly their prices range between $1,500 for a 12- x 18-inch version to $3,500 for the largest 2- x 3-foot size, making them relatively obtainable for those not on Defense Department tabs. If the video of Seattle pulling an Inception above didn't impress you enough, be sure to check another embedded video after the break.
World disappoints us once again: Japan loses 2022 3D holographic World Cup bid
Look, we don't know anything about World Cup bids. They probably have a lot to do with "infrastructure" and "taking turns" and stuff like that. But really, world? You couldn't pick Japan just this once? Japan's incredibly great 2022 World Cup bid involved projecting 3D holograms of the games live onto soccer football fields around the world, allowing folks that can't make it to Japan for the actual games to get a pretty great simulacrum, while standing next to people that look like them and are probably rooting for the same team. "I have to admit that the idea of this blows my mind away," said Japan's committee chief Kohzo Tashima. Did you get that, world? Japan was offering you 3D holographic full field broadcasts, and you just turned a cold shoulder. Congrats, Qatar, we hope you're happy with 2022, and we're sure you earned it based on whatever arbitrary metrics FIFA uses to select World Cup countries. But you'll never earn our hearts. Video of Japan's bid is after the break.
Sony working on same-screen 3D multiplayer, holographics for PS3?
Don't go knockin' Sony for resting on its laurels. The company that has spearheaded the 3D gaming push (NVIDIA notwithstanding) is apparently not even close to finished, with SCEE studio director Mick Hocking taking the time to get our juices flowing in an interview with Develop. The full spill is quite lengthy, and definitely a solid read for those interested, but a few key nuggets jumped out at us. For starters, Mike confessed that Sony has "techniques like holographics for the PS3 that [he thinks] will be very interesting for the future 3D games," and continued with this: "In regards to that we have some new technology that we've shown to developers that uses 3D techniques, it allows two players to play full screen multi-player games but without each being able to see the others view, and they have been massively keen on them." Of course, such a technique isn't exactly new -- we saw prototypes of the sort in use back at GDC -- but bringing them to a market as vast as the PS3 owner pool would definitely be a monumental step. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a Gran Turismo 5 disc laying here that needs our undivided attention for the time being...
Hacked Kinect renders interactive 'almost holographic' 3D video
Would you care to see the clever, combined output of Kinect's depth recognition and its video capture? The 3D effect is incomplete, since the camera can only see from one angle, but it offers a fascinating look at Kinect's capabilities.
Dynamic 3D holograms can now refresh every two seconds, save galaxies in their spare time
Perhaps the biggest challenge in making holograms usable on a daily basis -- aside from having to film your subject with a million trillion cameras -- is in getting their refresh rates up to the levels we're used to with "normal" two-dimensional video. We're still a fair way away from those magical 30fps, but the University of Arizona is touting a heretofore unheard of redraw rate of once every two seconds. This is a major advance from their first dynamic holograms demonstrated two years ago, which required minutes to swap over to a new image. The current prototype is built on a 10-inch photorefractive polymer screen, with lasers beaming information onto it, though 17-inch versions are also being tested. Another present limitation is that the hologram displayed can only be of one color, but that is also subject to the continuing labors of the UA researchers, who foresee no major hurdles preventing them from eventually cobbling together full-color, fast-refreshing, and fully realized 3D holograms. Now that'd be 3D television we can all get behind. Or in front of, depending on the viewing angle we want.
Verizon pushes for holograms in 10 years, wants to deliver it via FiOS
Apparently, there is something out there called 3D television that's soon to be all the rage in homes nationwide (we bet our friends at Engadget HD could tell us a thing or two about it). And what does all that new and exciting 3D content mean? That's right -- new and exciting bandwidth requirements, which is music to the ears of folks at Cisco and Verizon. Hell, Cisco predicts that streaming video (including 3D content) is expected to more than quadruple bandwidth demands by 2014. But that isn't the wild part -- the company's CEO John Chambers is predicting that in ten years holograms over IP will become commonplace. Apparently, Verizon has been conducting experiments with the technology over its FiOS network -- and when not sending spooky, holographic disembodied heads out into cyberspace, its CIO Shaygan Kheradpir has been testing a 1Gbps link in his home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Apparently, this kind of connection will have to become commonplace before we start seeing holograms in our homes, but we're pretty sure that Kheradpir only pointed out this last fact to make us jealous.
NICT's fVisiOn makes you see immaterial bunnies (video)
Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has been chasing holographic damsels in distress for as long as we can remember, and honestly, the technology's still not quite there, but the team that brought us the gCubik has managed to create a low-res 3D hologram table that impresses anyhow. Using an twist on the famous optical illusion toys that use convex mirrors to make objects appear to float in the air, NICT hits a specially-designed optical filter cone with the light from 96 pico projectors. The result is a series of familiar-looking rabbits, teapots and the occasional rubber duck standing five centimeters high and visible through 120 degrees, a good sight better than the two-degree radius afforded them by the original technology. The best part is there's no case enclosing these creations, unlike competing ideas, so we'll eventually see 360-degree tables where your fingers can frolic alongside the ethereal leporidae. Watch the lead researcher demo a prototype after the break.
World Science Festival kicks off June 2nd in NYC
If you're in the New York City area during the upcoming week, you really might want to think about trying to score yourself some tix to the World Science Festival. We've never been ourselves, and we have to say that our interest -- based on the description of the events -- is seriously piqued. The Festival was started Brian Greene (the physicist, not the guy from 90210) and his wife, and will run from June 2nd to the 6th. It will kick off with a gala event featuring Stephen Hawking, and will host a wide variety of talks over the week, covering topics like the science of sound, the science of Star Trek, and whether or not it's possible that we're all holograms. We're hoping to try to hit at least one of these events ourselves (though we do have a busy week ahead), but we suggest you check out the source link for full details yourself.
HoloToy: An amazing 3D app for iPhone and iPad
We've looked at a lot of 3D apps before, but I believe that HoloToy (US$0.99) is really something special. If you have an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, you should download it right now. I don't think you'll find a better 3D app in the whole store. HoloToy uses anamorphosis perspective projection to do its magic. This means that you won't have to wear those cardboard anaglyph (usually red and cyan) glasses; aside from being annoying, they kill the brightness and reduce colors to a muddy shade of beige. All you need to do is look at it and twist and turn your device to see the effects. It's an interactive app, and by making wonderful use of the built-in accelerometer, you can do a do a variety of things, including moving around a HoloBot robot and even playing a few games. The process used prevents images from appearing in front of the screen, so what you get is a five sided box, with the screen being a clear wall that you look into. Twisting, turning, and tapping on the screen lets you interact with all of the 3D images. The intention of the app was to start with a few sample images and add others every week or so, based on reader feedback. In fact, just today an update was released adding a customizable aquarium option. You can see the progression of the app as the new images have been released; the app started as a bunch of planets suspended in space that you can spin around by swiping. The distance between the planets and the back wall is apparent, and there is a white box on the back wall whose corners you can see by twisting and turning the screen. The depth effects get better with the next two non-interactive modules, an impossible triangle and two differently sized boxes.
Holocube Touch demonstrated on video, no glasses required
The original Holocube was already fairly impressive as it was, but it looks like the folks behind it have now managed to do one better with their new Holocube Touch. While complete details on this one are still a bit light, it apparently uses the same type of projection system as the original, with some added touch capabilities to let you interact with the holograms -- although not quite to the same degree as some other systems. As if that wasn't enough, they're also now apparently hard at work on 42-inch Holocube, but there doesn't seem to be an ETA on it just yet. Head on past the break for a glimpse of this one in action.
GE Global Research holograms increase security, redefine 'going green'
GE Global Research in collaboration with SABIC Innovative Plastics has developed a new class of holographic materials that can be processed in plastic to create a wide range of novelty products, credit, or identity cards. Instead of just being stamped onto the surface of the card like typical holograms, these new cards rely upon thermo-plastic based volume holography to store the data (binary images, 3D images of your face, fingerprints, and even animations) within the card itself for an extra degree of tamper-free security. And because the holographic material can be injection-molded, it could ultimately be applied to a variety of personalized products including laptops and cellphones. GE Global Research is intent on commercializing the new holographic materials by 2012, until then we've got a video that gives a good idea of how your 3D mug might look pressed into those government or corporate mandated ID cards of the future. Check it after the break. %Gallery-78893%
General Electric makes breakthrough in microholographic storage
Technical VersionGeneral Electric researchers announced today that the company has made a breakthrough in the development of microholographic storage discs for mainstream use. Using G.E.'s current technology, a single holographic disc could ostensibly hold 500 gigabytes of data -- about 100 times the size of a standard DVD -- and still be readable. Better still, these discs should be commercially viable when they're introduced in 2011 or 2012, coming in at around 10 cents per gigabyte (a pittance compared to Blu-ray's initial price of $1 per gigabyte).Layman's VersionYou know those holographic Jurassic Park stickers you have on the spine of your middle school Trapper Keeper? They're putting those on CDs to make them bigger! That is to say, on the inside. They'll be the same size on the outside, and should still fit snugly within your Saved By The Bell CD case.[Via Engadget]
Molecular projector scatters the world's smallest letters
1.5 nanometers: that's how small these letters are -- half a nanometer shorter than those inscribed by inferior brains back in October. Physicists at Stanford achieved the record (which ties Hitachi's work from 1991) by manipulating individual carbon monoxide molecules on a copper surface and then exciting the copper to bounce a holographic pattern off the CO. Software ensures that the molecules are positioned correctly to scatter electron waves into particular shapes, in this case an "S" and "U," before finishing with a "CK IT CAL," presumably. The work could ultimately lead to densely packed storage devices... or not. Just saying.
NICT researchers develop new method to make holography more practical
It's still not quite point-and-shoot, but it looks like some researchers at Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (or NICT) have gone some ways towards making holography a tiny bit more practical. As Tech-On reports, their method is based around a fly-eye lens that consists of a number of micro lenses, which allows for moving images to be captured in normal lighting conditions, and is also used to display the image after a computer works its magic on the raw images. There are still a few fairly significant drawbacks to the setup, however, as the image displayed is currently limited to one centimeter in size with a two degree viewing angle, although the researchers say they should be able to increase that to a four centimeters within the next three years. Check out an equally tiny image of an actual hologram captured with the system after the break.
