Holograms or Screens Part 2....

Lolita's Cantina and Tequila Bar, Las Vegas
world's first holographic nightclub

The future end of screens is coming. Want to see?
In the first part of this series, we spoke about the technical problem of projecting holographic images in the air.  We have shown how these images are being projected very convincingly now with the present holographic projectors on the market.  Amazing breakthroughs will be coming to market soon in this area:

The holographic projectors that are under development will be able to be much smaller and portable than image projectors that rely on conventional, incoherent light beams. Ultimately, holographic projectors may become sufficiently small to be incorporated into future generation cell phones.

Here are some of the companies that sell these projectors:
1.  Musion Eyeliner 3D Holographic Projection System as was used in the MTV Europe Awards in 2005 featuring the group Gorillaz.
2. Sypder Video Processor by Vista Systems, Inc.
3. Light Blue Optics of Cambridge UK (this however creates only a 2D image)

No doubt there are more but these are all we could locate.  There are exciting prototypes which actually let you feel the floating hologram as shown in this video.  This was mentioned in the internet around 2009.  The researchers, Takayuki Iwamoto, Mari Tatezono, and Hiroyuki Shinoda from the University of Tokyo, have produced a paper, but, we have not heard much more about this technology since it was announced in 2009,  although they do have a website.



This last video brings us to our next major obstacle to have the computer of our dreams.

GESTURE CONTROLLED 3-D HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS
In the film, Minority Report, the technology comes close to our vision.  Tom Cruise wears special gloves that the computer senses and he is able to move around and resize images on the screen.  This is pretty basic gesturing.  Of course there are three shortfalls with this technology presented in this movie.  First, it is a 2D image.  Second shortfall is that it is on a screen and not in the air.  Third, you need gloves to handle the objects.


There is a company that has come very close to solving the glove limitation.  It is called LM3LABS based in Paris and Tokyo.  They have avoided gloves with a technology called AirStrike.  They still use a transparent screen but it is clear that this AirStrike technology opens the door for the manipulation of holographic 3D images.  You will see four videos which showcase this hand control AirStrike technology.

This gravity chair is a concept of controlling objects through the air by hand gestures.  It is a concept product.

the gravity chair from Nicolas Loeillot on Vimeo.
based on AirStrike mid-air tracking.
http://www.lm3labs.com/blog2/category/airstrike/


Samsung Jet Launch - London, Dubai, Singapore & Beijing from Musion Systems on Vimeo.

There is no doubt that this technology will triumph over our traditional clumsy screen technology.  In the near future, your room will be your desktop.  You will move a folder over by the couch or, floating above your head close by so you do not forget it.  When you return to your room and turn the holographic projector on your desktop will appear again.  You will be able to move them from anywhere in the room.  Computers will be able to become extremely small since they will not need a screen.  The keyboard will be projected on any surface where you can type if you wish.  But your hand gestures will do than you will imagine without a keyboard.  The mouse will come to an end to be replaced by an infinitely more flexible and instrument - the human hand, capable of an almost infinite amount of gestures.  You will "conduct" your way through your work by nuances that musical conductors now use in conducting orchestras.  Entire houses will be built with holographic projectors in each room so that any room can be used to manipulate holographic objects.  This feature will be as standard in a home as plumbing or electricity.  The company that first makes it popular to the general public will reap untold millions in profits.  There is some evidence that Apple is working on something like this.  We can hardly wait.  What do you think?  We would love to hear your opinions!