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

In depth technical analysis

[Chocolate Teapot]

it works by somehow projecting onto a rotating screen

Yeah, that would do it.

Re:In depth technical analysis

[jepaton]

Found their website:

3dsolar.com

But good luck in finding technical details there

Re:In depth technical analysis

[Anonymous Coward]

"Uses our innovative revenue-generating VaporWare on top of the SCAM chipset."

Re:In depth technical analysis

[eMartin]

Well, it does work.

http://www.inition.co.uk/inition/product_stereovis _volumetric.php
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0224/hitac hi.htm

But in neither of those case can you interact with the image with your hands, because either the image is enclose in a glass sphere or it would be pretty dangerous to try to "interact" with an screen spinning fast enough to create the illusion. And in both of those cases, it's clearly based on multiple images, which 3DSolar claims they don't need.

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.

Smoke and mirrors?

[goneutt]

I've seen a handfull of display systems that used a fog screen to project 2d images before, and a few that relied on mirrored surfaces to create a 3d illusion. Light must be reflected off of something in order to be seen. This article doesn't say how it's done, so we'll have to wait for Oct 25 to see how its actually done.

If this uses a fog screen, will it therefore be vaporware.

I am sceptic

[uncl_bob]

I still remember those "super-cool" (according to the salesman) 3D-glasses with two tiny lcd-displays. After standing in line for like an hour I was allowed to try them on, and playing the coolest game there was at the time - hexen. And I still remember how worthless they were and how ripped-off I felt waiting that hour. This new thing is probably nothing like that piece of shit, but salesmen are still salesmen so I am sceptic.

Porn

[eSavior]

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. The stand-out feature is the way users will be able to manipulate the virtual image directly with their hands as they would a real object.
:O if prices will come down this is certainly going to make porn interesting.

Screens don't show 3D, people do

[RealProgrammer]

The problem is getting the brain to provide the 3D image.

3D displays using 2D devices rely on getting each eye to see something just a little different. With the old 3D glasses, for instance, one eye sees no blue, the other no red, with each image being slightly different, and the brain gets the blue from one and the red from the other. The brain converts that into a result it can handle. Don't ask me how.

With a rotating screen, each eye would see a slightly different image. Depending on how fast the thing rotates, the brain could interpolate the results into 3D.

Just a guess, but it's a brilliant concept if it works.

R2D2

[theluckyleper]

Hey man, the clarity on R2D2's emitter wasn't great either, but it was sufficient to...

omg, I'm going to stop now before this post gets any nerdier.

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.

Light years beyond

[StateOfTheUnion]

"3Dsolar is light years beyond holography and autostereoscopy in that designers can create images that are highly detailed in color, design and animation," said Patrick Levy Rosenthal, inventor of 3Dsolar.

Light Years Beyond . . . You would think that someone in the optics insdutry would not use the term "Light years" figuratively in a major press release . . .

Re:Wasn't there an arcade game that did this?

[goneutt]

I remember the system your talking about. I looked around and found the #@#$ed thing. "Itme Traveller,sega 1991. Used a 2d pic mirrored about. http://www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyerdb&subpage= thumbs&id=1213This is a company flyer for the thing

Solar, sun .. Helios?

[joe user jr]

Noting the semantic compatibility between "solar" and "helios", could this be a development based on (or just a re-hash of) the heliosdisplay technology that's been mentioned here before? (to get the nyt article without a login, just google this and click on the link, at least that works for me.)

At least one blogger seems to be equating them.

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.