Who doesn't remember that fantastic scene from Star Wars in which Leia launches a heartfelt appeal to Luke Skywalker through a hologram (rephrase: a holographic message)? Me, because I don't love the saga. Ok, stone me, but I had to make an introduction to the post. A long post like this, however, in which I will tell how holograms work and what can be done with them.
From that scene on, however, future lovers in the 70s began to imagine the future of holographic technology. Before their eyes, the dream of a day when we can chat with holographic projectors and holographic representations of people as if they were right in front of us. Static holograms and transparent holograms, or video holograms: it makes no difference, the important thing is to see a hologram in front of us, in mid-air.
Today, video calls are the means closest to the methods imagined 40 years ago. Moving images that start from simple shots, not "machinable" to use technical jargon. And the actual machinable holograms? Will they sooner or later be a functional piece of modern technology or will they remain forever relegated to science labs and science fiction works? Will we have real 3D moving holograms, or simple DIY holograms?
Meaning hologram etymology
If we analyze the etymology of the word hologram without necessarily bothering Wikipedia, the ideas become clearer. From the definition of holographic technique we also derive the destination. The meaning of the term “Hologram” comes from “Olo” (everything) and “Gramma” (Writing). It literally means “record everything”, “write everything”. It's not a photograph. Not even a 3D projection. It is not a mirror that simply returns what it sees. It is a system that collects and stores much, much more information. In summary: the answer to the question “what are holograms” goes far beyond any dictionary!
Are real holograms coming?
If you are thinking about starting a 3D hologram production company, know that it may have a future. One of the technologies closest to the real holographic technology seen in movies is augmented reality. The creation and application of 3D video holograms finds its exaltation in the enrichment of reality. Headsets with this technology provide everything you would imagine a 3D hologram would be.
With a device like this that creates holograms you can look at the world around you and see things projected holographically directly into the space around you. You can also watch holographic footage: scenes from a past birthday to relive directly, as a participant within a scene. In fact, I believe that "holographic events" could become a good business in the broader framework of digital holography, or who knows, even interactive holography. The possibility of making a holographic 3D video of a wedding by shooting several scenes, and then years later asking questions and answers to a wedding witness or guest as if they were still there is something unparalleled. And then who knows what else: from airplane windows to holographic cell phones, through holographic photography and a revolution in cinemas with 3D holographic projection without the need for glasses.
How do holograms (or should I say holographic projections?) work
Technically speaking, what is presented in augmented reality is really a hologram, that is, it is a 3D virtual object that is not really there but seems to be there. And three-dimensional holograms, when done well, have a stunning effect. They are real objects, which have and retain a meaning. Projecting holograms can create a memory, create an imaginary fabric without end. A video hologram, in fact, is an objectified memory. DIY holograms – If you're curious about how to make a hologram, a simple holographic image, there's a little tutorial that you can find here. Other resources on how to make holograms (specifically: a video hologram) or to understand a holographic projection how it works are available at this address (but on the net it is full of shows like this: enjoy and beware of the red dot!).
The most important standard bearer of this AR technology is Microsoft's HoloLens, a specific device for holographic images or holographic video. In large part, the slow adoption of augmented reality as a pseudo-holographic technology is largely due to the fact that “special” equipment is needed to make it work. You need an AR headset.
However, eventually, the technology encased in AR devices will come to the point where they can be placed in the size of a normal pair of glasses. A meaningful hologram, in the pure meaning of "signification", that is, transmitted, visible without almost realizing the interface necessary to see it. This is what Google Glass tried to do, but it was probably well ahead of its time, acting on a brilliant intuition (or more a brilliant projection of the future).
What about holograms without the use of viewers?
Several startups are working on new ways to present holograms to the general public without glasses. Special projections, special lasers. A laser hologram. The idea of a holographic cell phone. The idea of a holographic television. One of them, Looking Glass Factory, is working on a device called Holoplayer. How to say: do we have holographic phones?
Through the device, a user creates 3D holographic objects, or 3D holographic events, that can be manipulated with gestures in the air. When you look straight ahead, you see the front of the image. You tilt your head to the side and see the side of the image. Imagine visiting the Milan Cathedral, or the holographic vision of any other monument, and walking around it with one of these interactive 3D holograms. Holographic objects (including monuments) can be manipulated with natural gestures: for example, reaching out, pretending to grab and turning will rotate the 3D objects. Swipe gestures made in the air also work, taking you to the next item in a series.
That said, “real” holograms are essentially already here, it's just a matter of refining the technology further, so it fits better into everyday life.
Are holograms actually useful?
In principle, it seems to me so. Holographic reality is something that already works, but it can work better and better. If you close your eyes and think about the future, however, you imagine holograms everywhere. They can be useful for technical education and training, for government, useful for engineers and designers who need a 3D visualization of the product they are creating. I'm not talking about a homemade hologram, but about laser holograms that required high creation and production costs. Also for 3D printing. In these industrial applications, augmented reality and holographic technology are extremely useful.
Consumer-side holographic technology? These holograms aren't doing very well
First of all, a question that may seem bizarre: is it possible to make a do-it-yourself hologram? I read up and the answer is Yes. And with different methods, too: I searched for "DIY 3D hologram" on YouTube and a world opened up. This is just one of the ways to create holograms at home, but if you search you will find plenty.
The situation is different if we think about the creation of holograms or the production of holograms with a product intended for mass consumption. There is not yet a standard for the holographic machine, or an Android-like operating system that would homogenize the attempts and plethora of 3D holographic screens that we will see in the coming years. Many people, even professionals, don't even know how holograms work. Sure, you try.
There have already been many efforts to make AR and holographic technology more consumer-focused. The failure of the glasses Magic Leap mark the most important setback for this project this year. Yet holographic technology would be very useful for corporate teleconferencing, especially in a world where telecommuting is becoming more common for the context in which we live.
Another realm in which holograms could be particularly useful is in consumer marketing.
Imagine walking through a shopping mall and finding holograms lying around perfecting your shopping experiences. If we take some time to think about the possibilities, there is no doubt that there would be several effective ways to use holograms in marketing.
How holograms will be used in the future
For the most part, holographic technology is a promising sector of the technology display industry. The entire hologram market is estimated to eventually be worth $5,5 billion.
The most advanced holographic technological applications are (as often happens) those in the military. This sector attracts a plethora of money for research and development, which can then flow into consumer applications for technology. (it happened for example with GPS).
In the medical field, holographic technology offers many opportunities for doctors. There is already a significant amount of imaging that can benefit from this. Imagine being able to quickly transfer diagnostics, x-rays and other tracings to a 3D holographic rendering. Digging up internal problems would be a much more immediate action.
Holograms also work for the security industry in ways you might not expect. Mainly because they are complex and difficult to recreate. Reformulation: impossible with non-proprietary holographic projector technology. Credit cards and banknotes profitably incorporate this technology.
Finally, holograms are a new tool also for Art. Imagine completely digital sculptures displayed in physical museums: they would be a nice modern complement to the features present in the collections. Next to a David by Donatello you could admire other holographic works by that artist not present in that museum. And what about mixed physical-holographic events such as some concerts with "passed" stars or circuses with virtual animals?
In short, the holograms are already here and holographic technology is getting better and better.
Updates in April 2021:
companies that invest in 3D projections are increasing their efforts. Big players like PORT (I talked about it here) to Microsoft with its Mesh (I talked about it here) aim to project holograms and remote images in 3d for work and videoconferencing. One of the latest in degrees of creating 3d holograms is Dragon O (I talked about it here), a new 3D technology which consists of a "cuboid" display made of tiny LEDs, and capable of creating a projection with a three-dimensional effect. But what do I say "three-dimensional", the dimensions (at least on paper) are constantly growing: someone is already talking about 7d holograms, but don't ask me what that means.
