Working
of Heliodisplay
The Heliodisplay
transforms water into a unique screen of fine vapour, suspended in mid-air to
create a nearly invisible screen into which any image can be projected. The
display can create a true 3D hologram effect when the right content is used. Heliodisplay
images are not holographic although they are free-space, employing a rear
projection system in which images are captured onto a nearly invisible plane of
transformed air.
Introduction
In late 2003, a small
company from the San Francisco Bay Area demonstrated a unique revolutionary
display technology. The (then) prototype device projected an image in thin air
just above it, creating an illusion of a floating hologram, reminiscent of the
famous scene from 'Star Wars' in which R2-D2 projects a hologram of Princess
Leia.
Displaying an image
using conventional projectors requires a non-transparent medium, typically
screens, walls, or even water, but air, which is transparent, cannot be used. A
more recent development is the FogScreen, which creates an image in midair by
employing a large, non-turbulent airflow to protect the dry fog generated
within from turbulence. The result is a thin, stable sheet of fog, sandwiched
between two layers of air, on which an image can be projected and even walked
through.
Volumetric displays
While head-worn
displays attempt to create the appearance of virtual objects within some work
space, volumetric dis¬plays actually create the 3D image of a surface within a
volume. The surface can be viewed from arbitrary viewpoints with proper eye
accommodation since each point of light has a real origin in 3D. Tracking of
the viewer is not necessary.
Abstract
The Heliodisplay is a
free-space display developed by IO2 technologies. A projector is focused onto a
layer of mist in mid-air, resulting in a two-dimensional display that appears
to float. This is similar in principle to the cinematic technique of rear
projection. As dark areas of the image may appear invisible, the image may be
more realistic than on a projection screen, although it is still not
volumetric. Looking directly at the display, one would also be looking into the
projector's light source.
Dual-sided projection
To accentuate the
sensation that these virtual objects actually exist in the physical world, the
dual-sided capabilities of the FogScreen are used to show both the front and
back of the objects, so that viewing the scene from opposite sides will present
a consistent perception.
Virtual Forest
Virtual Forest was
modified to be used with the FogScreen to show how a first person style
interfaces would feel, and to show off some advanced real-time rendering
techniques on the novel display. A user can navigate the forest by using a
tracked wireless joystick to control their velocity and direction. Different
buttons also allow the user to look around and change the direction of the
sunlight.
Applications
Proposed applications
for the real-world Heliodisplay include:
• Advertising and Promotion, e.g.: trade
shows; in-store displays; museum, movie and casino displays; theme parks.
Conclusion
Since 2003, IO2
Technology, the California-based company Dyner founded to commercialize his
invention, began selling his device under the brand name Heliodisplay M2 for
just under $20,000, out of reach of most consumers.
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