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New Unique Article!
Title: Touchable Holograms
Author: Lawrence Reaves
Email: 1000wordwriter@gmail.com
Keywords: holographic labels, custom labels, custom stickers, custom labels and stickers, holograms, touchable holograms
Word Count: 753
Category: Computers
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Touchable Holograms
Someone with a basic understanding of holography knows that a hologram is made up of beams of light that project a three-dimensional image. Put your hand to a hologram and your hand goes through it. That is, until now. Japanese computer scientists have designed a touchable hologram, one that interacts with human touch.
The hologram is created like any other hologram. The light that scatters around an object is recorded and put back together so that the image of the object can be seen via a camera or eye even when the object is no longer there. Touchable holograms have the same properties, except that the hologram includes wave emitters that send out little pulses of air when you touch the hologram, letting you actually feel the image.
The scientists used some Nintendo Wii controllers for motion detection, so that the hologram could "know" when it is being touched. It can sense the motion of your hand and its position, thus allowing you to interact with the hologram.
They can even control the "weight" of the hologram. While it is not technically heavier or lighter, it is possible to control the power of the bursts of air emitted from the hologram, thus making the hologram feel denser or heavier.
Since this new technology has only just now been developed, it has only been used for testing purposes - "catching" holographic raindrops, bouncing a holographic ball, and there is even footage of someone letting a little holographic elephant run around on their hand. This is just the beginning, however, and researchers have high hopes for the future applications of touchable holographic technology.
Since these holograms can be seen when needed, and disappear when they are not needed, developers are thinking up new ways to use this technology. Obviously, art is one application. Holography has been used in artistic ways since just prior to the 1970s. Salvador Dali used holograms in his art; as did many artists in the 1980's and 1990's. Touchable holograms create a new medium for holographic art in that the art can now be interactive.
These new holograms can also be used as teaching tools. The cost saved on interactive teaching tools like blocks and puzzles could be tremendous, if the technology becomes affordable enough. Furthermore, areas where children are lacking books, toys, and other teaching tools could potentially have them, if the holographic technology is developed in that way. Think about the interactive displays in museums. Buttons, handles, and other interactive devices can be made from touchable holograms. They appear when needed, disappear when they are not needed, and do not collect germs like standard plastic buttons.
This idea of avoiding germs by using the touchable holograms for buttons and switches is not lost on the researchers who have developed this technology. Studies have shown that light switches in hospitals are one of the many objects that spread a lot of germs because so many people touch them. If the light switches were replaced with touchable holograms, that would cut down on the germs. Researchers are currently developing a way to tie the touchable holographic image to an electrical system to accomplish this very feat.
This technology could also revolutionize the future of gaming. While not as front of mind as the hospital switches to these particular scientists, the internet is flooded with excited gamers who have read articles pertaining to this breakthrough and see a real place for it in video games. Since Wii technology is being used to "steer" the hologram, it is not too much of a stretch to imagine a video game with a touchable, interactive hologram as your teammate or opponent. Not only would it take RPGs to a new level, but first person shooters and fighting games would become that more realistic and exciting. It would require a whole new gaming platform, but it would seem that Nintendo would be the best candidate for the job.
Finally, the military implications of this new technology are obvious. Some military organizations are already using video games in conjunction with many other training techniques to train new soldiers. Touchable holography would make aircraft training, combat training, and other types of military training that much more high-tech, but also that much more accessible. For certain, anything created for good can be manipulated into bad, so whatever the applications applied to this new technology might be, one would hope that researchers would keep things well in hand, and make sure that this exciting new development is used for good.
The hologram is created like any other hologram. The light that scatters around an object is recorded and put back together so that the image of the object can be seen via a camera or eye even when the object is no longer there. Touchable holograms have the same properties, except that the hologram includes wave emitters that send out little pulses of air when you touch the hologram, letting you actually feel the image.
The scientists used some Nintendo Wii controllers for motion detection, so that the hologram could "know" when it is being touched. It can sense the motion of your hand and its position, thus allowing you to interact with the hologram.
They can even control the "weight" of the hologram. While it is not technically heavier or lighter, it is possible to control the power of the bursts of air emitted from the hologram, thus making the hologram feel denser or heavier.
Since this new technology has only just now been developed, it has only been used for testing purposes - "catching" holographic raindrops, bouncing a holographic ball, and there is even footage of someone letting a little holographic elephant run around on their hand. This is just the beginning, however, and researchers have high hopes for the future applications of touchable holographic technology.
Since these holograms can be seen when needed, and disappear when they are not needed, developers are thinking up new ways to use this technology. Obviously, art is one application. Holography has been used in artistic ways since just prior to the 1970s. Salvador Dali used holograms in his art; as did many artists in the 1980's and 1990's. Touchable holograms create a new medium for holographic art in that the art can now be interactive.
These new holograms can also be used as teaching tools. The cost saved on interactive teaching tools like blocks and puzzles could be tremendous, if the technology becomes affordable enough. Furthermore, areas where children are lacking books, toys, and other teaching tools could potentially have them, if the holographic technology is developed in that way. Think about the interactive displays in museums. Buttons, handles, and other interactive devices can be made from touchable holograms. They appear when needed, disappear when they are not needed, and do not collect germs like standard plastic buttons.
This idea of avoiding germs by using the touchable holograms for buttons and switches is not lost on the researchers who have developed this technology. Studies have shown that light switches in hospitals are one of the many objects that spread a lot of germs because so many people touch them. If the light switches were replaced with touchable holograms, that would cut down on the germs. Researchers are currently developing a way to tie the touchable holographic image to an electrical system to accomplish this very feat.
This technology could also revolutionize the future of gaming. While not as front of mind as the hospital switches to these particular scientists, the internet is flooded with excited gamers who have read articles pertaining to this breakthrough and see a real place for it in video games. Since Wii technology is being used to "steer" the hologram, it is not too much of a stretch to imagine a video game with a touchable, interactive hologram as your teammate or opponent. Not only would it take RPGs to a new level, but first person shooters and fighting games would become that more realistic and exciting. It would require a whole new gaming platform, but it would seem that Nintendo would be the best candidate for the job.
Finally, the military implications of this new technology are obvious. Some military organizations are already using video games in conjunction with many other training techniques to train new soldiers. Touchable holography would make aircraft training, combat training, and other types of military training that much more high-tech, but also that much more accessible. For certain, anything created for good can be manipulated into bad, so whatever the applications applied to this new technology might be, one would hope that researchers would keep things well in hand, and make sure that this exciting new development is used for good.
About the Author:
Article written with permission from MaverickLabel, supplying custom labels and stickers for personal and business needs. Find out more about hologram stickers for security and protection.
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