Imagine Being Able To Touch and Feel a Holographic Image - It's Now a Reality

Holographic technology has been around for a while now - and the moment anyone mentions the word 'holograph' it may conjure up images and memories from your favorite star trek, or other sci-fi movie.

However, holographic technology seems to be taking on a life of is own now - Imagine being able to not only see a hologram, but also being able to touch it. Yes you read it correctly - touch it.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have recently a few technologies which not only make it possible to 'feel' a hologram, but also to interact with it. Imagine having a ball in your hand. Now imagine bouncing that ball up and down in your hand. Roughly the same can now be done with this new holographic technology.

By combining a series of movement tracking and visual technologies, as well as what is now known as the 'Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display' holographic images can now be 'felt' by humans.

The hand tracking part of the technology makes use of existing technology found in the Nintendo Wiimote, by using its infrared camera and a retroflective marker placed on a users hand or finger.

This is then combined with the previously mentioned 'Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display' - which is something a little more new. It works by using what is known as 'acoustic radiation pressure' - a technology that allows force to be generated by emitting ultrasound from the tactile display, and then felt physically at the focal point - wherever that may be. In the case of holographic projections, the focal point would obviously follow the exact position of the holographic image - thereby creating a sense of interaction with the image.

For instance - using this technology, they are able to simulate and project falling raindrops, which, if you hold your hand below the holographic raindrops, you would feel the actual point of impact on your hand, and not only that - the raindrop would also 'bounce' or splatter on your hand, just like a normal raindrop would behave in similar conditions.

Applications for this technology will most likely take us to where our imaginations can stretch, and possibly even further - but it certainly is an exciting next step in holographic technology. We won't even try to list the possible applications here, because at this point the possibilities seem almost endless for this type of application.

Interesting stuff, and we'll certainly keep an eye on it as it develops and eventually finds its way into consumer products. Pardon the pun but - watch this space :)