Remember StarWars? That iconic moment when the hologram of Princess Leia is
projected from R2 D2? Or, in fact, any star wars hologram projection since then?
Appearing fully formed in thin air, shimmering with the haze?
Heliodisplay, first created in 2003, is that technology made real. It is literally,
the production of holograms that hover in thin air.
The original display system was the size of a coffee table, a hulking great
thing that dominated a room, and was too large for practical business use.
More modern variants have continually shrunk, producing models the size of OHP
projectors and below. As they have shrunk, the cost of producing has come down,
untl the current viability for purchase was obtained.
The technology involved is relatively simple to explain. A projection system,
specifically designed, is focused onto the mist and particle suspension that
occurs naturally in air, bouncing lights off of the particles and creating a
floating image. Nothing save a slight mist of water, added to the air in this
process. The water usage is such that on the original prototype, a litre of
water would be good for four hours. In refinement, modern variants will use
a litre of water in 20 hours of continuous usage. One of the newer features,
a self-sustaining-module, actually draws humidity from the air, to use to fuel
the image display. In a normal office environment, it will keep running indefinitely,
with no more maintenance than the photocopier.
One of the quirks of the display is that areas that would normally be dark on
a projection screen, appear invisible on a heliodisplay - you see straight through
the air to whatever is behind the display. This is what creates the same graphic
effect as was seen in the old Star Wars films.
The
image is however, not 3D. It is a 2D image suspended in the air. Walking round
it, it is possible to see this effect as the image becomes narrower until it
disappears from sight at an angle 0f 75 degrees to either side. It is also inadvisable
to peer down into a heliodisplay's projection slit as that is a powerful light
source, and will damage eyesight. The best way to view the image is straight
on, or from below, not from above, for this reason. Still, even looked at from
an oblique angle, images are about as bright as the first-generation rear projection
TV's. Colours render in full colour, and text is legible, although image definition
and fidelity are not comparable to conventional displays such as the CRT. The
granularity is definitely noticeable.
As an additional effect, it is possible to use a heliodisplay as a touchscreen
by hooking it up to a computer system with a camera. The heliodisplay's own
software will handle the delicate task of gesture recognition in 3D space, tracking
the user's hand as it bisects the image, and moving the image in accordance
to hand positions - holding and turning objects in the display for example.
Additionally, pens, pointing objects, and even lumps of wood can be used to
tap parts of the display to rotate.
Currently, distribution of the Heliodisplay originates dfrom Poland, in the
EU. 30 inch and 55 inch versions are available.
Product Info
Image Specs:
30" (4:3 aspect)
4:3 or 16:9
SVGA 800x600 pixels native. Max support 1280x1024 pixels
The
image is however, not 3D. It is a 2D image suspended in the air. Walking round
it, it is possible to see this effect as the image becomes narrower until it
disappears from sight at an angle 0f 75 degrees to either side. It is also inadvisable
to peer down into a heliodisplay's projection slit as that is a powerful light
source, and will damage eyesight. The best way to view the image is straight
on, or from below, not from above, for this reason. Still, even looked at from
an oblique angle, images are about as bright as the first-generation rear projection
TV's. Colours render in full colour, and text is legible, although image definition
and fidelity are not comparable to conventional displays such as the CRT. The
granularity is definitely noticeable. 
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