Scientists Successfully Create Moldable Holographic Images Usable by Human Touch
Spanish Researchers Develop Revolutionary Hologram Technology for Direct User Interaction
In a groundbreaking development, researchers from the Public University of Navarra have created a novel hologram system called FlexiVol. This technology, set to be presented at the 2025 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Yokohama, Japan, promises to bring us one step closer to the real-world holodecks portrayed in Star Trek.
The heart of FlexiVol lies in the use of multiple elastic strips, lined up side by side, which oscillate rapidly to generate interactive 3D volumetric holograms. These holograms are visible in 3D space, not just projected on a flat screen, and are physically interactive, allowing users to reach out and manipulate them as if they were tangible objects.
Traditional volumetric displays, usually exhibited beneath a safety dome, have been limited in terms of direct user interaction. They use a rapidly oscillating sheet called a diffuser for projection, but the problem is that this diffuser is usually rigid and can break or cause injury if it comes into contact with a user's hand while oscillating.
To overcome these safety hazards, the researchers utilised an elastic diffuser. This elasticity allows users to interact with the 3D graphics by inserting their fingers between the elastic strips as the diffuser oscillates. As a result, users can perform various manipulations, such as grasping and rotating a cube, or simulating walking legs on a surface.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. It could be particularly useful in educational settings, such as visualising and assembling parts of an engine, or in museums, allowing visitors to approach and interact with the content directly.
Elodie Bouzbib, the first author of the study, explained indirect interactions in a video. She highlighted that FlexiVol marks the first interactive 3D hologram system that enables such direct hand interaction, bringing a sci-fi style holographic experience to reality.
The study describing this breakthrough now appears in HAL, and the researchers will continue to refine and develop this technology. With FlexiVol, we may soon be able to manipulate holograms as easily as we tap and drag icons on a 2D smartphone screen, revolutionising the way we interact with digital information.
- The revolutionary hologram technology developed by Spanish researchers, FlexiVol, is set to be presented at the 2025 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Yokohama, Japan. This technology utilizes elastic strips to generate interactive 3D volumetric holograms, moving us closer to the holodecks seen in Star Trek.
- One significant advantage of FlexiVol over traditional volumetric displays is its ability to facilitate safe and direct user interaction through an elastic diffuser, which eliminates safety concerns associated with rigid diffusers.
- The potential applications of FlexiVol are vast, particularly in educational settings and museums, where users can directly interact with content, leading to a more immersive and interactive learning experience.
