For a hologram consisting of a single color, only one diffraction pattern is calculated, Bove says, but to create a full-color image, three different patterns need to be created, one for each of the additive primary colors: red, blue, and green. The computation consists of rendering a three-dimensional model, generating the diffraction patterns, and producing a video signal, all of which can be done using off-the-shelf hardware. Then, Bove says, the holographic video signal is sent into a light modulator, which consists of a waveguide--made of a material called lithium niobate--where light travels, covered by a piezoelectric material that converts the video signal into vibrations. The video signal changes the shape of the piezoelectric material, which changes the properties of the light moving through the waveguide. The emitted light wave is thus composed of various intensities and frequencies that, when projected onto a foggy piece of glass, recreate a three-dimensional scene. Because this novel modulator can emit light in the vertical direction as well as in the horizontal direction, it can also help eliminate some mirrors and lenses that made previous generations of displays bulky. While the project is in its final stages of completion, it has the potential to help make holographic video more accessible. "I'm entranced by the possibilities that [the researchers] show," says Harold Garner, professor of biochemistry and internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Garner has developed a holographic system for looking specifically at medical images such as MRIs. "I really look forward to a real device demonstration." While his expertise is in holographic images for medicine, Garner believes that people will start to demand more than just high-definition displays from their televisions and computer monitors, and will eventually want three-dimensional videos as well. "It's only a matter of time," he says. But what makes it challenging, Garner adds, is that consumers demand bigger and brighter images, and researchers are a long way from delivering 60-inch, high-definition holograms. Because of consumer tastes, "you may have to pick and choose" the commercial applications for this technology, Garner says. Bove and his team currently have a fourth generation of system lined up, which will be able to display an image as large as a desktop PC monitor; in contrast, the current system's displays are only about the size of a Rubik's Cube. Also, the current display is only capable of monochromatic holograms, but the fourth generation will have a full range of colors, Bove says. |
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Large-Scale Rewritable Holograms
02/08/2008
Comments
brunascle on 04/24/2007 at 3:36 PM
Web Developer
69
what's great it that it would probably already work with any software designed in DirectX/OpenGL, since the software is just sending the data about the 3d models to the hardware (via the drivers for the graphics library). as long as the hologram hardware implemented DirectX/OpenGL drivers, i imagine it would just be plug & play.
zippo on 04/24/2007 at 4:46 PM
24
radmin on 04/25/2007 at 3:05 AM
1
Henryfarmer on 04/26/2007 at 9:06 AM
1
Tremain2004 on 04/26/2007 at 1:16 PM
2
MIT EE.
grausc01 on 04/27/2007 at 9:16 AM
12
For future articles MIT Tech Review, please RESIST opening the story with saying a current technologies days are numbered. There are plenty of articles in your archives that open with this line and the products never turn over.
Yes, we will have holographic monitors some day, but not that soon.
SVE on 04/27/2007 at 7:55 PM
40
briang1621 on 04/30/2007 at 9:06 PM
31
Volumetric displays like that of Actuality-Systems have comparable viewing characteristic as holographic display but are larger than the one mentioned in this article, and in some cases lower resolution. 3D displays have advanced rapidly over the years, and are broken up into two categories, ones that require goggles or glasses and those that are goggle-less. The goggle-less displays like Sharp’s 3D monitor are on the market and coming down in price. Goggle 3D display are relatively common and are simple as a pair of goggles with a flickering LCD shutter which alternates in sync with a CRT or LCD screen to create a 3D illusionary effect.
Until now it seems that holographic display were far from being ready for market, but this breakthrough brings us with in a reasonable distance. I am interest to see which company buys this technology for their future displays, Sharp, Sony, or someone else?
Thank you
Brian Glassman
Pembroke Pines, Florida
www.techrd.com
GoodIdea on 02/22/2008 at 6:11 PM
1