Technology Made 3D Images Touchable

Imagine a light switch or a book that appears only when you need it — Japanese scientists are one step closer to making the stuff of sci-fi films into reality after creating a hologram that can also be felt.

Up until now, holography has been for the eyes only, and if you’d try to touch it, your hand would go right through. But now we have a technology that also adds the sensation of touch to holograms.

Holograms — three-dimensional images — are commonly found on credit cards, DVDs and CDs to prevent forgery, and larger scale holograms have been used in entertainment. By using ultrasonic waves, the scientists have developed software that creates pressure when a user’s hand “touches” a hologram that is projected. In order to track a user’s hand, the researchers use control sticks from Nintendo’s Wii gaming system that are mounted above the hologram display area.

The technology has so far been tested with relatively simple objects, although the researchers have more practical plans, including virtual switches at hospitals, for example, and other places where contamination by touch is an issue.This the technology could be used to replace other physical objects, making it economical and environmentally friendly.

While there’s no word with regards of how this technology could be used a home-entertainment sense — with more and more games going wire-free — if we were to combine 3D and touch sensitivity, then that could make for interesting gaming experience.