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Heliodisplay In Production

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the toys-i-need-at-home dept.

David writes "News of a 3D display that projects an interactive image into thin air, the Heliodisplay, is not exactly fresh. What is new however, is that this once far-fetched conceptual object is now real, working and being sold. For those of you who have forgotten, the Heliodisplay from company IO2Tech projects into the air (without a need for special screen) images fed to it from a variety of sources. In a way, it's a working version of R2D2s holographic projection system." A similar product, the Pocket Beamer was previously covered on Slashdot.

61 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. R2 the pimp by bigwavejas · · Score: 5, Funny
    "In a way, it's a working version of R2D2s holographic projection system.

    The only difference is R2 didn't have a 22" Free-space multimedia display/projector protruding from his chest.

    ...but if it shot out from his groin, that'd damn sure impress C3PO.

    --
    "Simplify, simplify, simplify!" Thoreau
  2. Practicality by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Possible uses for this product include advertising, entertainment facilities, design prototyping, teleconferencing etc.

    Having been about the radiology dept of the local hospital and having a few visits to the "turn your head and cough" clinic, thanks to a broken clavicle, I can think of a pretty good use. How about those ct-scans? Or is it really just 2D projected in 3D? Seems true 3D would appear muddy as you'd be seeing through translucent objects, unless they've come up with a way to make air opaque.

    Obviously the applications for such a product are endless. Most importantly it may convince my wife to finally allow the purchase of the Brook Burke Swimsuit calendar for testing purposes!

    Yesh! The most obvious! pr0n!

    Dear Santa, I wanna Heliodisplay, a 3D camera, and Natalie Pr0tman for Christmas...

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:Practicality by FLAGGR · · Score: 4, Informative

      Should've RTFA. It's a 2d image projected into the air, and since you don't have the flat surface as a screen to aid in your eyes depth perception, it appears 3D

    2. Re:Practicality by bcattwoo · · Score: 5, Funny
      Having been about the radiology dept of the local hospital and having a few visits to the "turn your head and cough" clinic, thanks to a broken clavicle, I can think of a pretty good use.

      Hmmm.. If they are making you "turn your head and cough" for a broken clavicle, you may want to go to another clinic!

    3. Re:Practicality by zkn · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "it appears 3D"
      You mean like QuakeIII does on my regular screen?

    4. Re:Practicality by Chuckstar · · Score: 2, Interesting

      My father is a radiologist. I've asked him this question before. With a few exceptions (colon fly-throughs, for instance) there is no value to a radiologist in having a 3d view. In fact, 3d would hinder their ability to see things because foreground objects would obscure background objects. Radiologists have no problem constructing 3d views in their heads using 2d films.

    5. Re:Practicality by FLAGGR · · Score: 2, Informative

      Quake III doesn't appear 3D on your screen. In that same sense a jpg off your digital camera appears 3D. It's just a collection of 3D data transposed onto a 2D surface (and eventually to your moniter) There is no real depth perception in this. That's why people have made steroscopic mods for Quake, where you wear 3D glasses which give the illusion of depth. There was also a QuakeIII mod that would put the image for both your left and right eyes on the screen at once, i.e. side byside, its like rendering the game twice each with a slight perception change, then you cross your eyes (ouch) and the images overlap, tricking you into depth perception. The reason why this projector makes things appear 3D is because its not projecting onto a flat surface like a moniter.

    6. Re:Practicality by esampson · · Score: 2, Insightful
      It's a 2d image projected into the air, and since you don't have the flat surface as a screen to aid in your eyes depth perception, it appears 3D

      Except that it's not the flat surface of the screen that makes an image appear 2D, otherwise when you looked out the window of your house everything would appear flat.

      We perceive depth because we have two eyes and when you look at something in 3D you get slightly different images in each eye. This is how 3D movies work.

      Since both eyes will see the exact same image, although at different positions relative to the background, your brain will process it as a flat object hanging out in space, much like the things you would see in an old Viewmaster.

  3. Slashdot Effect in 3D! by RobertB-DC · · Score: 3, Funny

    I still have to cross my eyes to see it, though.

    Service Temporarily Unavailable

    The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later.

    Additionally, a 503 Service Temporarily Unavailable error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
    Apache/2.0.48 (Linux/SuSE) Server at www.io2technology.com Port 80

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    1. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by confuted · · Score: 3, Informative

      Here's a Mirrordot Link

    2. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by ShadeARG · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I wonder if there is a mod_slashdot around that will serve a 503 if it detects a few Slashdot referrers in a short period of time. That would be a smart way to save bandwidth. It would be nicer if it would automatically coral cache itself and then serve a redirect though.

    3. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And still no freakin' price list- who puts up a ecommerce site and fails to tell people how much the damn thing COSTS?

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    4. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Help me sys-ad-min, you're my only hope ..."

    5. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by Professional+Slacker · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think this is one of those, if you have to ask you can't afford it things.

      --
      A Free Market requires informed intelligent consumers, such people are rare, we're in trouble.
    6. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by dgatwood · · Score: 2, Funny
      I think the expression is "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

      :-)

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    7. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by smooth+wombat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Not trying to jump all over you for making the statement, but I'm sick of that statement.

      I don't care if I can't afford it, I want to know the price.

      This is the same kind of nonsense that realtors use. They'll list a house, but not the price, in hopes that people will call them. If the house is too expensive for the caller then the realtor can try to find something else.

      Sure, it's a good way to get more contacts but I don't care. I don't want to waste my time calling someone if I can't afford it in the first place. Just give me the information and let me make my own decision if I can afford it or not. Stop with all the cloak and dagger crap.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    8. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The ideal cost of an object is the maximum each individual customer is willing to pay for it.

      That was back before the Wal*Mart Effect took over. Now the ideal cost of an object is the maximum ALL individual customers are willing to pay for it- as long as the manufacturing costs are less than 60% of that. You can slide up to 80%, but unless the retailer can make a 20% profit they simply won't carry the item.

      By not publicly setting a price one can "personalize" the price for each individual customer, maximizing profit while not turning away lower paying customers.

      Which just insures that some third world nation will have a manufacturer that will poach your patent- and undersell you by thousands on the wholesale level.

      Of course this only works when you can adequately segment your market, and make sure customers don't collude with each other. Sometimes, for big ticket items, contracts even specify that one can't release pricing or performance information. Whether they are enforcable is another matter...

      If anybody ever tries to get me to sign such a contract, they will not only lose the sale- they'll find their pricing information all over the internet within 24 hours.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    9. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by VoidEngineer · · Score: 2, Informative

      precision laser arrays? a coiling mechanism that condences water at a constant rate in a non-closed system? integrated motion sensors? this is a very slick piece of equipment, who's complexity is on par, at the very least, with an ultrasound machine or an xray machine. also, i imagine that this thing's resolution is more accurately measured in voxels, rather than pixels.

      So, if it's 800x600 resolution, then it's actually 800x600x600 resolution; which makes it more like 600 times the resolution of an HDTV screen.

      I agree that the concept of these displays has been around for some time. Actually implementing them has been much, much harder than initially anticipated. And each method has strengths and drawbacks. And none of them are implemented in the exact same way... Lenticular screens (ala the Synthagram), rotated projection screens (ala the Perspecta), active matrix shutter goggles (ala CrystalEyes + Barco)... for high-res "HDTV" quality stereoscopics, you're investing a tidy sum of change for the optics and control mechanisms.

      The real reason that these things are still so costly is that no single solution has 1) been easy enough to use that home consumers could use it, 2) had high enough image quality, 3) had useable, 'real' depth, and 4) been reprogramable so that multiple video channels can be subscribed to. Since no solution has been able to meet all these requirements, the technology hasn't entered mass production. When it does, you can expect the prices to drop an order of magnitude as the laws of economic production and the markets take over. Until then, these are specialty items, reserved for scientific industries (healthcare, air traffic control, computer auotmated design, niche-advertising at amusement parks, etc).

    10. Re:Slashdot Effect in 3D! by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      precision laser arrays? a coiling mechanism that condences water at a constant rate in a non-closed system? integrated motion sensors? this is a very slick piece of equipment, who's complexity is on par, at the very least, with an ultrasound machine or an xray machine. also, i imagine that this thing's resolution is more accurately measured in voxels, rather than pixels.

      Where did you get that last? This is a 2D display. Period. It does NOT accept 3D information. Precision laser arrays? Try three lasers (RGB) with mirrors on very fast stepper motors for positioning. Integrated motion sensing is no big deal at all- we've had that for a while on the light projecting keyboards. Though they might be using ultrasound instead- the company I worked for back in 1996 had an ultrasonic chip tray cheap enough for a casino to put in every blackjack table, that would read the stack of chips and give you the value of the tray.

      I suspect that this is truly a first foray into the home consumer market- and as such, the price should drop quickly.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  4. The pocket beamer? by lpangelrob · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that you, or are you just projecting yourself to be happy to see me?

    --
    -Rob

    Biblical fiscal responsibility

  5. Phfft by Jhan · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Holographic, as in
    Although the HelioDisplay uses lasers, the images are not holographic
    It is, however, an hovering 2D image which is as cool now as the first time I saw it (1986)
    --

    I choose to remain celibate, like my father and his father before him.

    1. Re:Phfft by 3-State+Bit · · Score: 3, Informative

      Holographic, as in
      Although the HelioDisplay uses lasers, the images are not holographic.
      It is, however, an hovering 2D image which is as cool now as the first time I saw it (1986)


      Do you mean the image had no depth values? (Was a hovering plane?)

      Here is the article text (with links):



      Interactive 3D Display: Its Here!
      Posted on 08.17.05 @ 7:05 am
        Story by Asim Waqar

      Originally mentioned at Gizmodo as a prototype in 2003, IO2 Technology has just completed the production unit and provided the details behind the revolutionary HelioDisplay which produces interactive 3D dsiplays in thin air (via lasers) from common sources.

      The HelioDisplay technology page lists some of its remarkable features:

      Inputs from most regular sources: PC,TV, DVD, HDTV, Video game consoles
      Projects a 22 to 42 (depending on model) diagonal image that floats above the device
      It is interactive, like a virtual touch screen: a hand or finger can act as a mouse
      Although the HelioDisplay uses lasers, the images are not holographic
      Possible uses for this product include advertising, entertainment facilities, design prototyping, teleconferencing etc. Obviously the applications for such a product are endless. Most importantly it may convince my wife to finally allow the purchase of the Brook Burke Swimsuit calendar for testing purposes! This of course relies heavily on pricing (TBD) and other more, um, personal matters.

      Apparently the product is ready for release; visit the product page here which looks like its being updated right now.

      Visit the IO2TECHNOLOGY company homepage here.


  6. Damn that was quick. by MrCopilot · · Score: 5, Informative
    Karma, its not just for whoring anymore.

    http://mirrordot.org/stories/0e4768d9cefb72835cc26 04c911d6919/index.html

    Nifty Display though. Cost anyone?

    --
    OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
    1. Re:Damn that was quick. by MrCopilot · · Score: 2, Funny
      Step 1.Post Mirror
      Step 2.Read Article
      Step 3.Respond to asinine comments.

      Guess my work here is done.

      --
      OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
  7. Back to the Future! by melonriel · · Score: 3, Funny

    So how long before the 3D version of Jaws comes out and the advertisements for it attack you while you're walking down the street?

  8. What's this going to do? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not interested until I can have sex with it

  9. The perfect (geek) UI! by operagost · · Score: 3, Funny
    A tiny holographic projection of Darth Vader: "What is thy bidding, my master?"

    Or perhaps Padme instead ...

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    1. Re:The perfect (geek) UI! by double-oh+three · · Score: 2, Funny

      With hot grits...

      --
      "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
  10. Star Wars Science by Ken+Hall · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Couple months back, I read an article about various aspects of Star Wars Science, and how plausible each was thought to be. Curiously, thin-air holograms were at or near the top of the list as "probably impossible".

  11. Gaaah! by dal20402 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Now I'm having nightmare visions of holographic projections of bosses being used to scare everyone in the workplace.

    'Course, I guess us geeks could create a holographic swarm of spiders in the boss's office too...

  12. I hope Six Flags... by Blitzenn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I hope places like Six Flags latch onto this stuff. (I did get to see it before the site went down). The projected image looks much more solid than I would have guessed it would be. That's good news. Maybe now Rollercoasters and such can have a whole new level of fear and excitement added to them. Imagine hurtling down that drop at 120mph, right toward what appears to be a solid wall, no coaster tracks veering off to one side to ease your mind. Or perhaps a person standing in front of your car as you careen toward it. Maybe (holographic) people flying out of the car ahead of you as you careen around a bend. Such cool and nasty fearful things we could do to scare the pants of people now.

  13. Full mirror by winkydink · · Score: 2, Informative

    here .

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  14. Google cache by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Google cached page Images

  15. Slightly OT: Mirror mod by utopianfiat · · Score: 2, Funny

    There ought to be a (+1) Mirror provider point.
    It's like community service for slashdot for people with low karma. :D

    --
    +5, Truth
  16. So how do they 'modify' the air? by jakedata · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They do something to create a scattering effect for the lasers, but they say that they don't add anything to the air.

    So, do they have a little compressor precipitating water which they then mist over the unit? Will it work in heavily air conditioned offices, or do you need to fill it's little water cup?

    The technical description was devoid of useful info, but I bet an ultrasonic humidifier and a video projector could give you an R2D2 effect if you projected into free space.

    1. Re:So how do they 'modify' the air? by TigerTale · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The device heats the air to create a "mirage effect," then projects an image onto the plane of the mirage so that the reflected image can be seen from the user's angle of view.

  17. What's really cool . . . . by erikharrison · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I remember seeing the heliodisplay ~9 months ago, when it was still a prototype. They has some videos of the thing in action. It had, at the time, a few problems, the biggest being that the vents that blow the air which the image is projected on can cause ripples in the air flow that affect the image.

    However, the cool feature the Heliodisplay has that I've not seen anyone mention is that it can register someone placing their hand in the image field, and move the objects around.

  18. Applications by Savantissimo · · Score: 2, Informative

    From Google cache of another page on the manufacturer's site:

    Example Applications/ Industries:

            * Advertising and Promotion, e.g.: trade shows; in-store displays; museum, movie and casino displays; theme parks.
            * Collaborative Decision Making, e.g.: board meetings and presentations; command and control; architectural and engineering design; teleconferencing.
            * Simulation & Training, e.g.: virtual targets; pre-operative planning.
            * Consumer, e.g.: video games; home theatre.

    Less Obvious Examples:

            * Transparent teleprompter.
            * Heads-up displays in new fields.
            * Build one into a door jamb and have a walk through image or virtual privacy screen.
            * An in-store end cap advertising display and demonstration through which the customer can reach and grab shown product.
            * Build the Heliodisplay into furniture, e.g. project from desk.

    --
    "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" - Patrick Henry
  19. Is it going to be good enough by WormholeFiend · · Score: 3, Funny

    to view pr0n with it?

    Finally, a "screen" that doesn't need cleaning.

  20. The air is "converted... by fenodyree · · Score: 2, Insightful
    From the FAQ:
    Will the heliodisplay affect the room in which it is operating in?

    *No, the heliodisplay converts the air and does not introduce anything new into the air that does not already exist in the air.


    So the question is...What does it "convert" the air to? Using a mist would add to the air, but it is not adding something that does not already exist...Definitely marketing speak.
  21. Took me a minute to find the link... by Ken+Hall · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The relevant page from the article is here described in the heading as "improbable", but the article text says "impossible". Obviously the author doesn't read Slashdot.

  22. crosswinds... by fenodyree · · Score: 2, Informative

    Considering the FAQ states the "image may be susceptible to cross winds..." suggests just another smoke and lasers setup. With the added proof that the "top must be left uncovered for the device to work properly."

    Clearly the system is projecting onto a mist of sorts...

  23. Re:Sorry to be sceptical... by Tx · · Score: 2, Informative

    It even confirms that on the IO2 "technology" page:

    The image is display into two-dimensional space (i.e.planar). Heliodisplay images appear 3D when viewed from more than a few feet away because there is no physical depth reference.

    --
    Oh no... it's the future.
  24. Re:What i really want to know is... by Bimo_Dude · · Score: 4, Informative
    Here is the patent for their Method and system for free-space imaging display and interface

    Interesting read.

    --
    "Teleporting Rodents with D-Cell Battery Displacement" theory -- IgnoramusMaximus (692000)
  25. Patent Application by Anm · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here is the related patent application:
        http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=P TO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2F srchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=1&s1='20040001182'.PGNR.&OS =DN/20040001182&RS=DN/20040001182

    As I understand it, it condenses moisture in the surrounding air, and atomizes it into a tightly controlled 3D screen for lasers to project onto. Sounds like a next generation fog screen, plus interactivity.

    Still wish I could see the video. And if they were this close to launch, and already patented, why wasn't it at SIGGraph?

    Anm

  26. Not 3D, 2D by saddino · · Score: 5, Informative

    In a way, it's a working version of R2D2s holographic projection system.

    This is simply 2D projection onto a moving air stream, so "in a way" it's nothing like a hologrpahic projection system.

    From their site: Although the HelioDisplay uses lasers, the images are not holographic

    It is pretty nifty though.

  27. 2D Projected Onto A Mist by BRock97 · · Score: 3, Informative

    It actually works by shooting a mist into the air and projecting an image onto said mist. Some videos of the display in action are located here and here.

    That said, I am glad that the technology from SeaQuest DSV has finally made it. Now, everyone can have a conversation with a creepy old guy or a deceased relative in the comfort of their own home!

    --

    Bryan R.
    The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
    1. Re:2D Projected Onto A Mist by grassy_knoll · · Score: 3, Funny
      It actually works by shooting a mist into the air and projecting an image onto said mist.


      So the DoS attack against this is a ceiling fan?
      --
      A Human Right
  28. Approx. cost by soccerace09 · · Score: 3, Informative

    According to http://www.overclockersclub.com/, the Heliodisplay will cost you a hefty $22,500, as right now all of the avaliable models are just prototypes.

  29. A new meaning... by Guspaz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gives a new meaning to the term "Smoke and mirrors".

  30. Arcades by Jodka · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I predict that the initial "killer app" for these things will be arcade gaming. I figure:

    1. It is an insanely great, irresistable technology for gaming.
    2. It is still too expensive for home gaming.
    3. People who can not afford to buy their own will still pay to play one in an arcade.

    Computers and game consoles replaced the pay-to-play arcade games which boomed in the 80's. That's because the price of computing fell so low that owning your own game machine became a better bargain than travelling to an arcade and paying a fee to use one. The same conditions which supported arcades in the past, awsome gaming hardware unafordable in the home market, may have returned here.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature.
  31. Hellodisplay? by Seoulstriker · · Score: 2, Funny

    When I first read the title of the article, I read "Hellodisplay", and I imagined a giant statue of goatse.cx man with a plaque under it: "In honor of Hello.jpg. May his sense of openness be with us all."

    And then I read about the pocket beamer... * shudder *

    --
    I am defenseless. Use your button. Mod me down with all of your hatred.
  32. Once again.. slashdot as antiserver weapon. by plasmacutter · · Score: 3, Funny

    The second link in this article is now completely gone.. the server is now denying permission (i presume to avoid actually having to COPE with the bandwidth issues)

    HAHA.. i would totally abuse this power if i were allowed to post stories.

    --
    VLC FOR MAC IS DYING! IF YOU DEVELOP, PLEASE SAVE IT!!
  33. Talk about unspun reporting by oskard · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Filed under: General and Unusual

    So those two aren't mutually exclusive? Does that mean its generally unusual?

    --
    Sigs are for Terrorists.
  34. Never mind... by jpellino · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'd asked how it was going to make an image with nothing to reflect off of - and it doesn't.
    It's a fog screen - a really neat one that concentrates condensate out of the ambient air, but a fog screen nontheless. No pot of water, no Disney lagoon.
    According to the patent, it relies on cold air condensate blown up in a laminar layer.
    Good thing - had it relied on blowing *hot* air, they'd have been denied due to prior art from SCO.

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  35. Yes I'm at my desk by planckscale · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I plan on creating a holographic image of myself sitting in front of my PC, so when the boss looks in his spycam or walks by, I will be sitting there working diligently.

    --
    Namaste
  36. I've seen them in action... by PeterChenoweth · · Score: 2, Informative
    And they are neat. But only if the air is still. If there's enough air movement in a room that you can feel it, it will be enough to disrupt the mist and seriously distort/ruin whatever image you're trying to see. Maybe ok for a giant Coca-Cola sign, but not so good if you're trying to read numbers off of a spreadsheet.

    Oh yeah, and they do leave a puddle of moisture on the floor beneath them as well. It is just a stream of mist falling to the ground.

  37. Price by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    $18,600

    http://gnr8.typepad.com/gnr8_news/2004/09/heliodis play.html

  38. Forget R2 by LS · · Score: 2, Informative

    Couldn't you use this projection technology to make a REAL (at least looking) light saber??

    --
    There is a fine line between being a cultivated citizen and being someone else's crop. - A. J. Patrick Liszkie
    1. Re:Forget R2 by peetola · · Score: 2, Informative

      Couldn't you use this projection technology to make a REAL (at least looking) light saber??

      As long as you don't want to move the lightsaber, then yes.

  39. More information by Eric+Coleman · · Score: 2, Informative
    from what I've read it does not require any extra water. From the website...
    Operating the device will not change a room's environment, air quality or other conditions. Air comes into the device, is modified then ejected and illuminated to produce the image. Nothing is added to the air so there isn't any harmful gas or liquid emitted from the device. If a Heliodisplay were left running for a week in a hermetically sealed room, the only change to the room`s environment would be from the electricity used to run the device. Although the Heliodisplay uses lasers, the images are not holographic.


    One thing I noticed from the images is that the color black is transparent which makes sense since there is no thing such as black as in #00000 light as in not UV. Such a limitation would make some things, such as doom 3, nearly impossible to play. Of course, you could always use the device in a totally black room, or at least with a black background.

    google notice the first image, with the laptop image in the background, you'll notice how black is transparent.