Hologram

Ever since I saw Star wars and a holographic projection of princess Leia popped out of R2D2, I've been astounded by the power of holograms. But it has taken several years before the technology seems to have become a reality.

In the beginning we had 3D movies, utilising special 3D glasses you can see the image pop out of the screens. Over the years this technology has improved drastically to create some out standing results. But any visual aid wearing person, like myself can tell you; it's not comfortable having 2 glasses on.

Then 3D screens such as Alioscopy came along, providing viewers a glasses-free 3D technology capable of showing rich detail and depth without the need for funny 3D glasses. Sort of like the computer screen on the movie 'Paycheck'. But like the star Ben Affleck, I'm more interested in having the 3D image appear without the need of such screens.

3D Screen using Alioscoptic Technology.

Then I found the Mirage device. A device capable of generating a holographic image of an item. Unfortunately It was difficult to modify this item to be able to show animated objects. But the clarity and sharpness of the 'mirage' was unbelieveable.

Mirage.

But in order to get animated images out, I had to look at other methods. I found a few people who actually take video of people on a 'black' background and project it on to a special screen. Given the right lighting conditions this looks like a floating hologram. Already used by several companies for commercial purposes, this is the most commercially viable solution to date.

Holographic projection used in Korea.

3D hologram performance in New England Air Museum.

Kate Moss hologram.

The use of holograms have always amazed and interested people from all over the world. As the possibilities of utilising it are endless. Even during the US 2008 Election Campaign, Holograms were used by CNN to make the interviews more interesting. Of course this was more special effects then actual hologram.

CNN Interview of Will.I.Am via Hologram.

But to have a full 360° degrees hologram is something that people are still trying hard to achieve. Some people have used rotating LEDs and mirrors to create an illusion of a 360° degree hologram.

Hologram utilising rotating mirrors.

Hologram utilising rotating LED.

Well so far the closest thing I've found to R2D2's Hologram was a technology called Heliodisplay, developed by a company called IO2 Technology in the US. This is probably the closest thing to date as far as holograms are concerned. Although the images are only 2D, they are able to give a false sense of 3D as it is suspended in mid-air.

Heliodisplay in action.

Well I'm sure there are plenty more technologies out there trying to achieve holographic 'reality', so if you do know of such technologies please feel free to add a comment and share it with us.