360-Degree 3D Imaging

CompSurfer writes "Yesterday, 3Dsolar released information about a new 3D imaging system, it works by somehow projecting onto a rotating screen. According to the story the "Prototype debuts at NVIDIA Oct. 25 in Santa Clara, California and [at] Innovact in Reims, France, October 5-7" I wonder where they are hiding the force field emitter..."

Comments

Without glasses, and true 3D?

[temprand]

I somehow have a feeling that what they are trying to do, just like every other application I have seen (projection through smoke, etc), is not going to turn out quite with either the resolution or clarity they want. I hope it works out, sign me up if it does, but I definitely have my reserve about their claims.

From the 3Dsolar site...

[Anonymous Writer]

This is what is says on the 3Dsolar site...

3Dsolar display devices are set to revolutionize the way that people enjoy multimedia content both at work and at home. This latest innovation finally brings the dream to reality. For the very first time you will see objects flying few inches away from your screen without glasses and will be able to rotate 360 degrees around these objects.

Since images are based on a single view, content providers will not have to deal with two complex and independent images to create the 3Dsolar effect. Free from these technological complexities, content providers will be able to re-focus on their core business and freely create and develop 3D images in no time. 3Dsolar technology is not based on the principle of autostereoscopy.

It doesn't sound like a method of displaying images that have depth, with a different perspective for each eye. It sounds like a way of somehow projecting a 2D image that appears to be in mid air. I recall reading about this sort of thing ages ago, using some tricks with light to make images appear to hover in front of store windows using some form of projection. I think it is inaccurate to describe it as a 3D display if it can't give the perception of depth, but it still sounds like great technology.

I see a bit of need to RTFA

[goneutt]

There are a bunch of peeps saying that the technology projects onto a peice of rotating material. Thats not what the article says.
For the very first time, computer users will be able to view 3D objects hovering a few inches away from a screen that rotates 360 degrees - without wearing glasses
I think this phrase is confusing people. That refers to seeing it from 360 deg around. Later in the article it says The 3Dsolar device projects the Windows or MAC desktop image into the air whereby users click on icons for manipulation. Nothing about any rotating surface. I still think there's something funny going on here, but we'll have to wait for some real photos to say how it works, not that PR junk on the site.