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Breakthrough in Holographic Displays

bendodge writes to mention the BBC is reporting that researchers at the University of Tucson, Arizona have created a polymer that allows holographic images to be created in minutes. Normally holographic images are created by mixing the results of multiple laser lights to lay down a static image, a lengthy and delicate process. "In a paper in Nature Mr Tay and colleagues describe their thin-film polymer that can have images 'written' to it in minutes and can be wiped as quickly to take and display another image. The material has been shown to stay stable throughout hundreds of write and erase cycles. The ability to quickly refresh images in holographs could mean that surgeons use them as a guide during operations or as a better way for pharmaceutical researchers to study molecular interactions for new drugs during simulations."

59 comments

  1. Almost right by Tau+Neutrino · · Score: 4, Informative

    University of Arizona, in Tucson.

    Hope they got the rest of it right.

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    1. Re:Almost right by Tarlus · · Score: 1

      University of Arizona, in Tucson. I'm glad that the first post on the page was the quickest to correct that!
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  2. The Dark Side... by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Funny

    Help me, Obi-wan, you're my only hope

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  3. Excellent news! by KublaiKhan · · Score: 1

    I can hardly wait for this to be adopted! Though it seems that it needs some new drivers or something; 1/300 or so FPS isn't going to be nearly good enough to play TF2 on.

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    1. Re:Excellent news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      1/300 or so FPS isn't going to be nearly good enough to play TF2 on.
      But by the time this is available to consumers, Duke Nukem forever is going to look awesome.
  4. Primary use by QuickFox · · Score: 3, Funny

    Judging by the article illustration its primary use will be to create Hollywood-style zombies.

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    1. Re:Primary use by QuickFox · · Score: 4, Funny
      FTA:

      The images that the material can capture are almost as sharp as those broadcast on US television. My god! Does American television look like the article illustration? No wonder you people are ill-informed about the world!
      --
      Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
    2. Re:Primary use by Otter · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, that's actually what Arizonans look like on a hot day in Tucson...

    3. Re:Primary use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I, for one, welcome our Hollywood-style holographic zombie overlords.

    4. Re:Primary use by drooling-dog · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Judging by the article illustration its primary use will be to create Hollywood-style zombies. Surely porn won't be far behind...
    5. Re:Primary use by QuickFox · · Score: 3, Funny

      Your taste in porn is, um, different from mine.

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      Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
    6. Re:Primary use by DataSurge · · Score: 1

      GREAT sig QF! Emailed it to my friends. Thanks!

    7. Re:Primary use by QuickFox · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the encouragement!

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      Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
  5. Re:Other Uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Best AC post all day!

  6. Hmm by ShooterNeo · · Score: 3, Informative

    From R(ing)TFA, it appears that this thin material allows taking of a holographic IMAGE quickly. It still would be incredible useful, as holographs can be viewed from multiple angles and are in 3 dimensions. A photograph that sticks out. Granted, most of the ones I have seen are pretty bad but in principle they could be useful. The medical application does sound handy : instead of flat 2d xrays, xray machines would be basically digital CT scanners that gather enough information to produce a 3d image from a specific angle. This digitally processed 3d model would then be used as the basis for forming a holograph, suitable for placement on the X-ray reading boards and having on a clip next to a surgeon during surgery.

    BUT...it is by no means a 3d display. The best way to have full motion, high resolution 3d images is still using a head mounted display combined with a sensor for tracking head movement.

    1. Re:Hmm by noidentity · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Johnny Lee's head tracking using Wiimote sure seems effective enough for examining 3D objects with a normal display.

    2. Re:Hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Granted, most of the ones I have seen are pretty bad but in principle they could be useful.

      I've seen some pretty high quality ones in a museum once, but it sounds like this one's quality is horrible. The article says, "almost as sharp as those broadcast on US television." I'm having a hard time thinking of a less sharp image that most people would be familiar with and it's not even that good.

    3. Re:Hmm by hesiod · · Score: 1

      > instead of flat 2d xrays, xray machines would be basically digital CT scanners that gather enough information to produce a 3d image from a specific angle.

      Reading the article, I was decidedly unimpressed at the thought that this would be useful for surgery. You see, there are already software applications that can take a stack of CT images and create a 3d "flythrough" view. This technology already exists for PCs, so having a holographic version of the same thing seems like a HUUUUGE step backward, and is not worth the money you'd have to spend on holographic film vs. a piece of software (which could even be included in the price of either the modality (CT, MRI, etc) or a PACS (Picture Archival And Communication System) which is already needed to store the digital images.

      I work in a hospital's IT department and saw such a thing at the RSNA (Radiological Society of North America) conference in 2006. At the time, it was mostly smaller systems, such as a heart or blood vessels, but the idea is certainly able to be expanded to larger areas, if necessary. Of course, if it is for surgery, a much larger area would usually be unnecessary.

  7. Well then by CSMatt · · Score: 1

    We are now closer to the era of holographic videos.

    Of course the movies will be silent and the polymer records will have to spin at 78 million RPMs.

    1. Re:Well then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I heard that the Magic Eye folks tried making a movie using their random-dot stereograms. Not a success.

    2. Re:Well then by farkus888 · · Score: 1

      of course they will, how else would you be able to watch your rich uncles comedy work?

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  8. And now... by Skee09 · · Score: 1

    you can take it on the go with the help of the mobile emitter.

    Did I just make a Voyager reference? Sigh...

    1. Re:And now... by B3ryllium · · Score: 2, Funny

      Just don't forget to turn it off when you're done.

      "I'm a doctor, not a lightbulb." :)

  9. Alternate Coverage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Ars has better coverage which talks more about the polymers used and how this is actually achieved. It also has a link to the paper published in Nature (although you can only get an abstract if you're like me and don't have a subscription).

    I submitted this story, too. So knowing Slashdot, we might see a dupe :-)

    1. Re:Alternate Coverage by noidentity · · Score: 1

      I submitted this story, too. So knowing Slashdot, we might see a dupe :-)

      Dupes are necessary for the holographic effect.

  10. The obvious use by Denial93 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pharmaceutical data, my ass. We're looking at "Playboy 3D" material here, and a reason to go back to print media for everyone's monkey-stroking needs!

    1. Re:The obvious use by Mystic+Silverfox · · Score: 1

      Or even worse the holographic ads that sci-fi films have been promising for decades. It'll start as "static" billboards, then as the technology matures and the display can refresh images faster we'd be looking at 3d commercials outside Victoria's Secret... yay

    2. Re:The obvious use by Cappy+Red · · Score: 1

      Pharmaceutical data, my ass. We're looking at "Playboy 3D" material here, and a reason to go back to print media for everyone's monkey-stroking needs! 2d porn gives way to 3d porn, which eventually gives way to the next stage of technology: prostitutes.
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  11. What About Military Applications? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why does every always assume that new technology could be applied to humanitarian applications? I think we need holographic images of stuff getting blowed up!

    1. Re:What About Military Applications? by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      Na, let's just have SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX.

      The only good technologies are technologies that satisfy our increasingly perverted and nihilistic desires. We need holograms so we can see 3-d pictures of women having intercourse with wombats or particle accelerators. We need this technology so we can get the whole effect from the Pamela Anderson-Tommy Lee sex tape. It's absolute required so that when we have wardrobe malfunctions we can get titillating 3-d zooms over, above and below the all-important nipple. Those with fatty obsessions can get the fully glory of rolling plumpy skin!

      SEX SEX SEX!!!! That's what we really need more of.

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    2. Re:What About Military Applications? by zippthorne · · Score: 1

      Well, because it's red. Military holograms will be blue, with horizontal lines. Also, they'll be projected into free space by mobile trash-can sized navigation/computation units. And they'll be used mostly for private communications rather than, as you would expect, as tactical displays.

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  12. Linking to mainstream media sites for science news by Tyler+Too · · Score: 3, Informative

    BBC's coverage is pretty lame. Slashdot would serve its readers better by linking to coverage at a science blog instead. For instance, Ars Technica's Nobel Intent science journal has a far superior writeup of the announcement.

  13. Re:Other Uses by Hawkeye05 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who said anything about lesbian?

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  14. No, it's a display. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    The BBC writeup isn't very good. Try Ars Technica's coverage and you'll see that it's a 100 cm^2, rewritable holographic display. Or you can read the scientific paper in Nature.

    It really is a holographic display. It uses a mixture of two polymers and quite a few kilovolts to zap things into place, after which you get a nice little display. It takes about half a second to form the image, which then lasts for about 3 hours (compared to it vanishing in about as much time as it took to create the image before). The device is also a lot bigger than previous devices.

    I covered all that in my submission, but I guess someone beat me to submitting the story. Oh well, I've got plenty of accepted submissions already, anyhow, and knowing Slashdot, they could use my submission for a dupe, tomorrow :-)

    I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property

  15. They've had this for years. by XHIIHIIHX · · Score: 0

    They're only talking about it now because they can't use them to pirate micro$oft cd's anymore

  16. tags by valentingalea · · Score: 0

    [+] displays, hardware, helpmeobiwan, zeropunctuation (tagging beta)

    Is anyone else getting these tags?
    I caught the helpmeobiwan reply (pretty funny btw) but what has Yahtzee got to do with this :D?

  17. HM by GottliebPins · · Score: 1

    Great! Now I can print all of my Hannah Montana concert pics in 3D!

    1. Re:HM by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 1

      Hannah Montana? You dishonor the noble name of Gottlieb. I challenge you to a duel!

    2. Re:HM by GottliebPins · · Score: 1

      Who do you like best? Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus? The great debate is on! ;) - Gottlieb made great pinball tables

    3. Re:HM by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 1

      Who the hell is Miley Cyrus, and why should I care?

      Now stop with the musicians and draw thy blade!

  18. In other news today.... by Izabael_DaJinn · · Score: 0

    Los Angeles - Vivid Entertainment Group announced on Wednesday that it has just signed a contract with Savas Tay and colleagues at the University of Arizona to license their 3D technology for an upcoming "adult extravaganza" starring Jenna Jameson, Sunny Leone, and Tera Patrick.

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  19. Re:Linking to mainstream media sites for science n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    BBC's news coverage is fine, dickhead. It's a news site, not a science blog. Has more readers than /., for one thing. A few US news organisations could do with being as impartial and as comprehensive.

    PS. Mod this one "Flamebait". Hope this helps.

  20. Holographic Storage Device? by phreakhead · · Score: 1

    So this seems like its moving toward a holograph writer which you could install in your PC. Then you could write holograms just like you burn a CD, but would these holograms have more or less storage capacity than what we have now?

  21. Zzzzz by BorgCopyeditor · · Score: 1

    In minutes? Wake me up when holographic images can be created in tens of milliseconds. Also, I demand a 20 cubic foot recessed tabletop display. Finally, it probably needs to cost under $500, so we can put one in every classroom.

    OK, back to sleep now.

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    1. Re:Zzzzz by jbengt · · Score: 3, Informative

      It only takes minutes if you're making it on the re-writeable photorefractive polymers, of which this new one is an improvement.
      If you're using plain old film to make a non-re-writeable hologram, then it takes about as long as it takes your film to expose.

    2. Re:Zzzzz by rrohbeck · · Score: 1

      In minutes? Wake me up when holographic images can be created in tens of milliseconds. Also, I demand a 20 cubic foot recessed tabletop display. Finally, it probably needs to cost under $500, so we can put one in every classroom.

      OK, back to sleep now. Actually I keep wondering where the problem is with this. All you need is a spatial light modulator with a resolution significantly smaller than lambda. Why hasn't anybody built a DMD or silicon LCD with 100nm pixels?
  22. RealTime by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not exactly an expert in polymer science, nor in holography, so forgive me if this is ridiculous, but would it be possible to do some kind of layering so that, supposing a full read-write cycle took 5 minutes, you could layer 60 sheets to get 12 fps? I know there was an article a month or two ago about some Israeli company designing a 100-layer DVD, so I don't know how far fetched that is, and how different the lasers in holography are from optical drives. Just a thought.

    1. Re:RealTime by qikink · · Score: 1

      Sorry. I just realized I fudged the numbers a little bit much there. That should be 12 frames per MINUTE, not second. That wouldn't be that impressive anyway. oop.

    2. Re:RealTime by hesiod · · Score: 1

      Also, they are physical sheets, so between each "frame" of that 12fpm you would see a hand pulling the top sheet off of the stack...

  23. Star Trek, TNG version by unassimilatible · · Score: 1

    The material has been shown to stay stable throughout hundreds of write and erase cycles.

    Yeah, well what happens when you are on a starship and get hurt and need a doctor and you run out of polymer?? The devil's always in the details. First Hillarycare, now this!!

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  24. Making holograms is easy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Normally holographic images are created by mixing the results of multiple laser lights to lay down a static image, a lengthy and delicate process"

    Wrong. Ive got the kit in front of me. Phase sensitive coated photgoraphic plate. Colliminated laser.

    Set it up (dead simple. objetc+plate+point laser at it) and then develop it.

    The hard part is stopping the damn vibrations and getting a clear imag.

  25. cloners by prevajanje · · Score: 1

    will need to speed up their stuff

  26. I noticed that sounded a little suspect... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lived in AZ for years, never heard of Tucson University lol.

  27. IF IT BLENDS, IT'S NOT VAPORWARE! by quincunx55555 · · Score: 1

    I'm starting to get tired of seeing the "vaporware" tag for stuff that actually exists. Just because you can't buy it yet doesn't mean it's vaporware. Now had the scientists said, "We came up with an idea that would allow us to make a material that will/might/should display a hologram/holograph in minutes", and it's touted as something that will be available, then it's vaporware.

    However:
    "The material has been shown to stay stable throughout hundreds of write and erase cycles."
    and
    "The team has automated the process of capturing, writing and erasing images via a system that can take input from MRI, CAT scans, satellite or aerial photographs and microscopes."

    Shows that it not only exists (and will probably blend), but they've already tested methods of putting it to practical use. Notice how these statements are "past-tense"?

    Now, git off ma' lawn!