Hologram Technology Overview. Fundamentals, Use-cases and State of the Art.

2 minute read

A hologram is a special kind of graphic that is produced by a light and that looks three-dimensional. In other words, a 3D image that exists in real space. Just like in Star Wars.

FAQ

Are AR, VR also holograms?

No. AR, VR are different technologies that allow users an immersive experience. With VR, you are experiencing reality in the virtual world, and AR gives you the ability to augment the reality. Both technologies require some device or headset to see virtual graphics. On the other hand, hologram technology doesn’t need a headset.

What about HoloLens?

Hololens is a headset that allows you to augment reality, and it also allows you to interact with it. That’s why it is called Mixed Reality (MR), but it is not a hologram technology, even though Microsoft repeatedly called the images “holograms” during demos.

But, I saw a video that shows flying animals, whales, and other cool things, but I don’t see people wearing any headset to see them.

That’s because those videos are mostly fake. AR, VR, MR, XR, and Hologram are the most exciting words nowadays, so companies use these words in a context to attract people without worrying about they are real or not. These technologies are still unreal for most people anyways.

What is a hologram then?

Studios & Companies

Kaleida - Kaleida is one of the most innovative production companies, let alone hologram companies, around today
Hypervsn - The next generation of 3D advertising is here
VNTANA - Upload existing 3D design files and instantly share a 3D web viewer with built in AR
VOXON - Voxon Photonics
Wayray - Add-on Holographic AR Display Technology
LeiaDisplay - Streams of barely visible fog becomes an image carrier and their laminar structure allows to display high resolution contents
Realfiction - Realfiction is a leading global provider of unique 3D holographic display solution for retail, expos and brand activations
Metastage - State of the art 3D Performance Capture Studio
Imverse - Live 3D Holograms

Holographic Imaginary Methods

The Pepper’s Ghost Effect

The Holographic Smokescreen

Holographic Nets

Based on LEDs which are programmed to create images that present a 3D holographic effect.

Holographic Spinning Mirror Technique

Spinning mirror systems are used to build interactive 3D graphics and autostereoscopic visuals visible to multiple simultaneous viewers, since a different view can be perceived by each viewer depending on the angle of vision Wikipedia