

By Andrew Liszewski

Researchers at the University of Southern California’s ICT Graphics Lab have created a new type of holographic display that can generate simultaneous 3D views for multiple observers without the need for special glasses. The setup also happens to be relatively inexpensive since it’s built around a specially modified off-the-shelf DLP projector that works with a spinning mirror.

The system works by projecting high-speed video onto a rapidly spinning mirror. As the mirror turns, it reflects a different and accurate image to each potential viewer. Our rendering algorithm can recreate both virtual and real scenes with correct occlusion, horizontal and vertical perspective, and shading.

What that means is that the projected hologram is updated about 200 times a second to adjust for the height and distance of the viewers so that the object being displayed always appears to stay in one place, no matter where you move. And besides all the hardware and software innovation that went into this holographic display, I have to give the researchers at the ITC Graphics Lab credit for going with the 1980’s wireframe TIE Fighter model which ensures their research and website will get plenty of free publicity. I’ve also included a video of the display in action after the jump.

[ ICT Graphics Lab – Rendering for an Interactive 360º Light Field Display ] VIA [ Wired Gadget Lab ]



