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Holographic Keypads Float Into View

Posted by simoniker on from the insert-princess-leia-gag-here dept.

prostoalex writes "The New York Times tells the story of a Connecticut-based company called HoloTouch that is developing input devices that literally "float in the air". The technology will be licensed for information kiosks in New York city. Some other sample applications are available from the company's Web site. HoloTouch already managed to secure the patent on its technology."

5 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. Floating in air... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Isn't it hard enough surfing for porn with one hand already?

  2. Tactile Feedback is important by GillBates0 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Anybody see the lack of tactile feedback as a problem? Holograms are great for unobtrusive displays like in aircraft like the story says, but once you start interacting with it, you would expect some type of feedback.

    Especially, if they plan to use this sort of thing for remote medical procedures. Imagine a doctor trying to perform a delicate surgery, without any sort of sensation of touch whatsoever.

    Maybe they'll come up with force feedback gloves or something.

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    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
  3. Yeah so... by Valiss · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have a doormat in front of my front door. It's a holodoormat, not a square drawn on the ground with chalk as someone of lesser intelligence might think. When you step on it it'll ring the door bell (after you hit the button). Anyone wanna buy one? Oh and I have 10MB images that you can download of it; and they aren't picture of my front door with a photoshopped square drawn where a doormat should be. I swear.

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    -Valiss
  4. Re:USPTO USPOT? USOPT? SCAM? by frovingslosh · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It's nice to know that they issue patents for things that rightfully deserve patenting too.

    Can you read the patent and figure out how the "The holographic image generator 200" works? I sure can't. Maybe I'm just dense and others can point out the invcention here, but how the hell does their supposed holographic image generator 200 work? If the purpose of a patent is to disclose how a device functions, and in doing so give the inventor a limited time monopoly on the invention in return for information that becomes public knowledge and will eventually become freely useable by all, then I think this patent falls far short of this requirement. I have serious doubts that the company even invented anything at all, it looks more to me like they hope someone else will and that they can then sue them, based on having obtained a patent without actually inventing anything or provide the public any value in return for the patent.

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    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  5. Re:look before leap by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 5, Informative

    Uh... people with only one eye can't see the 3D aspect of a hologram. They can see a 2D picture just fine.

    If they move their head, then they can see the 3d aspect as well.

    One eyed folks will do just fine here.

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    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.