US researchers unveil holographic technology to transmit and view moving 3D images that's 100X faster than their last system in 2008.
Scientists at University of Arizona say their prototype “holographic three-dimensional telepresence” is the world’s first practical 3D transmission system that works without requiring viewers to wear special glasses or other devices.
Prof Nasser Peyghambarian, project leader, is especially enthusiastic about teleconferencing. “Let’s say I want to give a presentation in New York,” he said. “All I need is an array of cameras here in my Tucson office and a fast internet connection. At the other end, in New York, there would be the 3D display using our laser system.
With 3D, one perspective is projected to one eye and another perspective is projected to the other (that's why people have to adorn special glasses that they find annoying). No 3Dl glasses are needed with a hologram where the number of perspectives is only limited by the number of cameras.
In a videoconference, this means people sitting on one side of a table see the front of a person, people on the side would get a side view and people in the back would see their back. “Holographic telepresence means we can record a 3-dimensional image in one location and show it in another location, in real-time, anywhere in the world,” says Peyghambarian.
The centre of the system is a “photographic” polymer developed in California by research labs of Nitto Denko, an electronic materials company.
Researchers say now they have proved the concept, it will be possible to develop a full-colour system to capture the human body and fast enough to give smooth movements. Professor Peyghambarian predicts it will take 7-10 years’ work before anyone tests a consumer version of the system.
