“Holographic telepresence means we can record a three-dimensional image in one location and show it in another location, in real-time, anywhere in the world,” said Nasser Peyghambarian, the leader of the optical team. Not only can recorded images be projected but the technology is able to send the 3d video information over long distance. It’s not quite real-time, but it’s the closest thing to R2-D2 showing the hologram of Princess Leia that we’ve ever had in real life. The more cameras used to record the image, the higher the fidelity. In order to create the image, a pair of lasers are shot into an 11″ screen made off photorefractive polymer which holds the image for about two seconds before another can be projected. And you don’t have to wear and glasses or anything to see it.
The projected holographic video that we’re used to only seeing in sci-fi in movies like Star Wars and Star Trek is now very much a reality.Īn optical sciences team from the University of Arizona published a paper in the scientific journal Nature today which describes a process that would allow projection of a 3D holographic image that can update in near real time.
