Holographic images are no longer exclusive to science fiction films thanks to the ICT Graphics Lab at USC.  Three-Dimensional displays have proven to be quite difficult to emulate, suffering from problems such as small viewing areas and high costs.  Using spinning mirrors, high-speed DLP projections and very precise mathematics, the crew at USC are able to display nearly 5,000 individual images reflected every second which come together to create a real-space three-dimensional object. In this case, they’ve displayed a Star Wars imperial tie-fighter.

They’ve also created a formula that renders specific projections at different heights and traces each projected beam back to the display. This way, the projection always finds the correct position of the viewer. So regardless of where you’re standing, the tie-fighter will always be a tie-fighter.  This is a huge breakthrough in three-dimensional holographs that could eventually lead to Cortana-like women everywhere.

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Why get all of our information through computers via sight and sound when we have a sense of touch? Korean and US researchers have developed a flexible tactile display small enough to wrap around your fingers, similar to a Band-Aid. Overcoming the bulkiness that plagues current devices of the same nature, this soft, flexible alternative could possibly aid communication for the blind

“When you apply a normal device to a non-flat surface like human skin, it is impossible to stimulate the whole skin through its shape. In the case of a wearable tactile display, however, it can be applicable to many kinds of surfaces without the limitation of stimulus area because of its flexibility.”

With absurd flexibility, efficient power usage, cost-effectiveness and easy fabrication, the finger tactile display could prove to be a valuable commodity to the visually impaired. Though the design is in its infancy, the results are looking promising.
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In yesteryear, we’d be playing Rad Racer with those chunky black glasses with the blue and red lenses thinking all along, “Wow this is real 3-D! The cars just jump out at me, man!” However, this is not the case. The company Holografika has created “HoloVizio” technology which provides multiple viewers with a three-dimensional display that changes as people shift their perspective of the screen.

Holografika claims that most of the three-dimensional gizmos on the market are not true 3-D as they do not meet the following criteria:

• No glasses needed, the 3D image can be seen with unassisted naked eye
• Viewers can walk around the screen in a wide field of view seeing the objects and shadows moving continuously as in the normal perspective. It is even possible to look behind the objects, hidden details appear, while others disappear (motion parallax)
• Unlimited number of viewers can see simultaneously the same 3D scene on the screen, with the possibility of seeing different details
• Objects appear behind or even in front of the screen like on holograms
• No positioning or head tracking applied
• Spatial points are addressed individually

The HoloVizio does not try to fool the brain into thinking it’s seeing a three-dimensional image, but rather attempts to recreate the properties of a window, a two-dimensional surface that displays shifts in perspective and changes in light pattern. With this technology in your household, watching “Brazil” just got a heck of a lot more interesting.
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Ever eye over a Chumby and think to yourself, “That’s one cool gadget, but I’m not looking to spend the cash on a widget machine.” That we have and I’m sure the creators of the YBox 2 Kit have as well. This DIY kit allows you to build and create your own machine that displays customizable content. Think Chumby meets inner-city Detroit.

Based on the Parallax Propeller chip, this little kit runs WAY faster than your old 486DX ever did. You can output video via a composite jack, network via DHCP with your broadband connection, use a remote with the built-in IR sensor and so much more. Lady Ada is selling the kit for a measly $75 and very few are left. Hit the link to grab one while you still can.

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This interactive approach to window shopping is sure to get consumer attention. Detecting the gaze of the customer looking at objects in the window, sensors calculate gaze durations and predominantly display the most enticing of merchandise.

This same technology could be used in museums and art galleries to show viewers extra material and/or tidbits of information regarding the displayed product. Put illuminating glass in a display along with some live plants and mankind is stepping in to a whole new era of windowed displays. It’s like Minority Report without the Scientology.
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Imagine the possibilities of having a tiny mobile-projector inside your cellphone. You could hold your own intimate private screenings, showcase the bestiality porn you found on IRC last night or broadcast. Really, the possibilities are endless. Thanks to John Van Scoter over at Texas Instruments, we now know that some cellphones will receive a portable projector by the end of 2008.

According to Van Scoter, he believes that by 2010, projectors will be as popular as built-in cameras. Some may even feature DLP technology to enhance the clarity of the movie being played. It’s really only a matter of time before hackers get a hold of some of these projection-enabled devices and use the projectors in another setting or homebrew device.

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Those of you who recently bought a new iMac are probably in love with it. However, I think you’ll agree that unplugging and plugging in USB devices left and right can become a pain in the ass. Enter the LowKey Stand, a stand that matches the iMac in both looks and usability.

On the front, you’ll find room to store that brushed aluminum keyboard as well as a 4-port USB hub. Having those extra USB ports in the front will prove a lifesaver for those of you with one too many cocks. The only downfall with the LowKey Stand is that it can support 35 pounds max, so don’t go throwing your CRT monitor on there. $60 and it’s yours.

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Christopher Reeves only had two enemies whom attacked his vulnerabilities the worst: Horses and Kryptonite, both for different reasons. Kryptonite was among the only materials known to man which could bring the mighty Superman to his knees (other than Lois Lane, of course.)

Rumor has it that Superman used Kryptonite as an excuse for his super limp noodle. “Are these sheets made of Kryptonite? Because, uh, you know, it sometimes has that effect.”

Designed in special protective casing, the Red, Gold, Blue and Green Kryptonite meteorites are all on display with this replica. Measuring 7.25″ x 10.75″ x 9.5″, the Kryptonite Replica Display is pure poison for anyone from the planet Krypton, but should be fine for us earthlings. Get your own for $275.

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You can go and envy Mr. Rich Man while watching his 70″+ plasma TV through the window of your local mansion. See how proud he seems of his accomplishment? All of these years of work, so he can enjoy a TV. Only if he knew that his measly 70 inches are dwarfed by the humongous MEGASCREEN! A TV so large it’s enormousness can only be explained in all-caps.

Big Moving Pictures Inc. is mounting their 40′ x 22′ HDTV LED displays on the only objects big enough to carry such a load: MACK trucks. Designed to provide video to audiences up to 100,000 strong, MEGASCREENS are the “biggest and most powerful LED-based display solution yet devised.” Yet, they’re still not large enough, dammit!

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Out to save the world, are ya? No, no, don’t start shoveling your propaganda down our throats. We get it. You have your hybrids and we have our Hummers. But here’s a product we both can agree on: Fujitsu’s “Zero-Watt” Monitor. It claims to use absolutely no power when the display is in stand-by mode, which means two things: lower power usage and lower utility bills.

A nifty little switch automatically turns off the power of the monitor when your computer goes idle. When the PC becomes active again, so does the monitor, which is then powered back on once the computer emits a signal. You’ll be able to get your own personal “Zero-Watt” sometime in the summer months of this year for around the same price as a conventional monitor.

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