Why Hologram Technology Is The Next Future

People are overwhelmed by the intensity of tech inventions. The moment they get used to some device or software, it’s already obsolete. Our personal and business lives are in a whirlpool of innovations shaped by AI, robots, social media, and smartphones. And yet, some things never change. People today are equally excited about holograms as they were in 1977 when Princess Leia appeared as a hologram in the Star Wars movie. Holograms were amazing to watch, hard to grasp and even harder to create. So, what is hologram technology and did it become the next future as people in 1977 had hoped?

Technically speaking, a hologram is a 3D presentation of a photographically recorded light field; it’s the same as the holographed subject, and can be seen without special glasses. But almost any 3D interactive virtual image today is considered as a hologram. However, this technology goes way beyond the “cool” factor. Imagine having 3D images of the relevant terrain to train the soldiers, or help with the rescue of people during floods and earthquakes. How about a doctor preparing for a surgery using the 3D image of a damaged organ? Why not use complex holograms to protect your credit card, or design complex 3D art? All of this is already a reality as holograms tech solves complex problems, and companies race to invest. Microsoft poured millions of dollars in developing HoloLens, a headset that allows interaction with holograms. Porsche and Hyundai led $80 million investment in holographic augmented reality (AR) tech company WayRay, while Time Warner pledged $27 million investment in celebrity hologram company 8i. And with the value of display holograms market expected to rise to $5.5 billion by 2020, we’ll witness a new gold rush. But the holograms industry is complex with different technologies competing for both the investment and the market.

Holograms and augmented reality

What people usually consider as holograms - a shiny laser visualization in a dark room - is actually a 2D surface using optical tricks to show 3D images. If you look at it from different sides, you won’t see it and the lack of depth of the visualization will be apparent. What companies want to do instead is to develop a 3D interactive hologram visible from all sides. To achieve that, some turn to AR headsets and apps, while others want holograms to be visible without any devices. AR technology “augments” digital objects into the real world that can be seen with the help of special glasses, smartphones, or tablets. Microsoft’s headset HoloLens is one such example. It’s connected with the computer, and allows a user who wears it to see 3D objects floating in the air or moving on the floor. You could even edit documents using your hands and do a lot of other things. But Microsoft is not alone in this game and other tech giants develop their own tools. HP sells Zvr, a 23.6-inch display that in combination with special glasses enables the user to see and interact with 3D. The sensors on the screen follow your movements and adjust the position of the 3D hologram. You can grab it on the screen, bring it closer, and put it back. And while AR tech is exciting, the real fun starts when headsets and smartphones are out of the equation. Liberated from these devices, holograms show their true potential and how they might shape our future.

Liberate the holograms

A 64-inch glass window is not an amazing sight. But a 64-inch glass window on top of the Empire State Building through which you see 3D holograms and AR images scattered across New York, is a jaw-dropping experience. Although usually not placed on skyscrapers, but rather in fairs or meetings, DeepFrame glass window developed by Realfiction is impressive. And it better be, as the hefty price of $50,000 is much bigger than anything else on the market. Compared to DeepFrame, 3D display HoloPlayer developed by start-up Looking Glass Factory is quite cheaper. The philosophy of this company is echoed by their $750 product that enables users to see 3D objects without glasses. As its CEO Shawn Frayne explains, “We have a philosophical belief that the real world should be prioritized over going into 3D digital space.” But, there is a catch. To allow the depth illusion of hologram, engineers had to sacrifice the resolution. And while it’s cool to grab or turn 3D objects with hands, a resolution of 267 X 480 is disappointing. Another impressive holographic system, although with much higher resolution compared to HoloPlayer, is developed by the Swiss start-up WayRay. This tech will display a holographic dashboard on car’s windshield and show the navigation, speed, and even identify pedestrians and nearby objects. The display will be controlled by voice or hand gestures, and you won’t need any headset. Car makers such as Porsche and Hyundai invested in this project, while the unidentified Chinese car maker will be the first one to test it in its cars. Even though you might be disappointed that these technologies are unable to project Princess Leia, scientists work hard and have promising results. Beam of light Creating holograms or princesses out of thin air was considered virtually impossible until the team of engineers at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, achieved a breakthrough this year. By using a special laser beam, they trapped cellulose particles and moved it rapidly through the air. The result was a three centimeters 3D butterfly and university logo floating in the air. The so-called volumetric display will unfortunately not produce the realistic images as we see in movies. But it could help doctors to visualize organs such as the hearth before surgery. And while these scientists work on the next big thing in holography, medicine is just one of many areas where even the existing holographic technology provides incredible value.

Maps, organs, and wine

The US company Zebra Imaging, acquired by Swiss HoloTech last year, produced more than 13,000 3D holographic maps for the US army. Soldiers were able to explore the terrain in three dimensions and develop new tactics. The same tech could be used to create maps that would help rescue operations of flooded areas or disaster evacuation. Another sector in which holography plays a critical role is medicine. Three-dimensional visualization of a human body improves the education of students, and helps in a treatment of patients. Doctors in Norway were using holograms to plan heart and liver surgeries. “It can take a scan of a particular patient's heart, not a generic heart, and they are building it holographically in full fidelity”, says Microsoft chief medical officer Dr. Simon Kos. But most doctors currently use 2D images generated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound scans. Holograms can convert these flat images into 3D models. The Scottish company Holoxica already produces full-color 3D images from MRI, emission tomography, ultrasound, and computed tomography. But holograms protect not only your body, but the wallet as well. The security of your credit card is ensured by transmission hologram. It’s usually in a form of a silver rectangle and if you observe it from different sides, you’ll notice 3D image and different colors. Paper money is also protected by this tech. For example, the new UK £5 banknote contains a reflective strip that changes colors and displays Big Ben when you tilt the note. And even the winemakers from South Africa use holograms to protect their drink from copycats.

Is the universe a hologram?

Holographic technology has come a long way from Star Wars movies, and its future is even more exciting. Once considered as the fringe idea, holograms are becoming an integral part of our private lives, cars, hospitals, board rooms, fairs, marketing, and so much more. As explained on the blog of trendwatcher Richard van Hooijdonk, “Holographic technology is set to become a huge game changer in many industries and has the power to significantly impact our daily lives”. And while many would like things to move faster, holograms are a complex technology. Giants such as Microsoft, Porsche, Google, and a range of start-ups are working hard to create new devices and apps. And if all goes well, perhaps the final theory of professor Stephen Hawking will prove to be true and the entire universe becomes just a giant hologram.