Touchable holography

[n2doc]

Ultra Cool Holography: Let's Users "Touch" Virtual Objects (VIDEO)
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/.a/6a00d8341bf7f753ef0120a520b253970c-320wi
Researchers at the University of Tokyo led by Hiroyuki Shinoda has developed a display that lets users "touch" objects that appear to float in space in front of them. The virtual objects appear in mid-air via an LCD and a concave mirror, creating the sensation of touching the objects produced using an ultrasound device positioned below the LCD and mirror.

This new holographic technology was displayed at the SIGGRAPH 2009 Conference.
Source:
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/23940/

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/08/revolutionary-holography-lets-users-touch-virtual-objects-video.html

[DJ13]

1. The porn industry will love this!

Very cool, thanks.

[AngryAmish]

2. touch my ass, Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope

[n2doc]

3. Yep, Princess Lay-a, at your command! n/t

[KittyWampus]

4. interesting, thanks

[demwing]

5. The Holo Deck / Sexamotron

Rodenberry was right again...

[laconicsax]

9. I've always said the worst job in Starfleet was hosing down the holodeck after each use.

[leveymg]

6. It's the "Feelies" from Brave New World

Actually, the ultrasonic technology for this is based on devices patented @ 1920 and commercially marketed in the 1930s as the "invisible harp". One could play a musical instrument (a synthesizer of sorts) by "touching" an invisible, silent keyboard of sound that was echoed back to a transceiver. Watch one being played at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEfraWRpwVY&feature=related The basic idea also made its way into radar and sonar.

[DKRC]

7. About damn time!

[tinrobot]

8. I just saw it - and touched it.

I'm at the Siggraph conference this week. The device is still pretty crude, but you can definitely feel raindrops hitting your hand.

[Greyskye]

10. very cool n/t