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"Dots" of plasma created by lasers create a three dimensional figure in open air - Courtesy AIST
By creating plasma in open air with lasers, Japanese scientists are working on a true 3D display

The Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) announced an exciting breakthrough in optoelectronics -- a working three dimensional display.  The display does not rely on any sort of optical illusion or disorientation. Instead, infrared lasers are aligned to converge and create small amounts of plasma.  The plasma acts as a floating "dot" on top of the laser grid. 

The infrared laser pulses across several reflectors so that 100 dots can be created per second.  The initial reports from AIST are a little light on details, but it appears as though the plasma dots can be drawn up to several meters away from the laser source. It also appears as though the device needs a vapor source with specific electron/ion content in order to generate the dots. 

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What do you mean "Other things besides dots"?!
By Xenoterranos on 2/10/2006 1:19:31 AM , Rating: 2
That's all digital images are! DOTS! Millions and millions of beautiful glowing dots. I can't wait until they perfect the tech and ramp the dpi^3 :) I'd hoot up my atari 2600 and play space invaders in 3d. That would roxor.




By Xenoterranos on 2/10/2006 1:21:09 AM , Rating: 2
Oh, and a link would be nice


By Scrogneugneu on 2/10/2006 1:26:57 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, and might as well correct that typo :

"The infrared laser pluses across several reflectors "


By rushnrockt on 2/10/2006 3:54:31 AM , Rating: 2
"The infrared laser pluses across several reflectors "

Ummm, say what? It's pulses, plural of pulse, unless you have some weird sense of humour.


By Scrogneugneu on 2/10/2006 1:32:10 PM , Rating: 2
The typo as been corrected, as if you read carefully, I reported the word spelled as "pluses", not "pulses".


By rushnrockt on 2/13/2006 3:20:25 AM , Rating: 2
You made a type too :)


By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 2/10/2006 1:31:33 AM , Rating: 2
http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_j/press_release/pr2006/...

The google translation on that is horrible. I had to have my girlfriend translate it :(

Kristopher


RE: What do you mean "Other things besides dots"?!
By Jedi2155 on 2/10/2006 2:35:15 AM , Rating: 3
Ooooo, so you got a hot Japanese girlfriend eh? ;) You sly dog....


By ProCeed on 2/10/2006 7:24:37 AM , Rating: 2
English version is available at site:

http://www.aist.go.jp/aist_e/latest_research/2006/...


By Le Québécois on 2/10/2006 1:26:59 AM , Rating: 3
I know that all digital images are compose of DOTS....I guess talking about the size of thoses dots is more what I meant. Unless you want to play pong 3d ( which could be fun ) with DOTS of that side we're still far from "StarTrek HoloDeck".


By Le Québécois on 2/10/2006 1:30:44 AM , Rating: 2
dots of that SIZE, not side. An Edit fonction would really be nice.


RE: What do you mean "Other things besides dots"?!
By tmp8000 on 2/10/2006 2:55:40 AM , Rating: 2
Or you could just reread your post before pressing the post comment button, ha ha! But I agree that we are far off from any sort of holodeck style images, but all of these baby steps are rather encouraging.


By Scrogneugneu on 2/10/2006 3:15:45 AM , Rating: 2
Well... if you remember what was the display device used by computers some 60 years ago, those dots seem to be a pretty good first step.


Interesting, but not the holy grail
By Fluppeteer on 2/10/2006 7:50:13 AM , Rating: 2
An interesting way of doing it, but "true" 3D displays have
been done before (multiple layers of LCDs, projecting an image
on a moving mirror, etc.) - although this version does offer
a bit more potential resolution.

The disadvantage of these technologies over multiple-view
displays (LCD shuttered stereo displays, lenticular overlays,
true holographic displays) is that they can't provide proper
occlusion information - you can always see the "back" of a
surface through the front (assuming the back is visible from
any angle), and you can see through objects to those behind.
They do have the benefit that there aren't steps between
viewing angles, though - the 3D effect is continuous. I suspect
the multi-view displays are the way forward, because it's easier
to add resolution than to overcome a fundamental problem with
the display (unless there's a way to make bits of the display
area opaque - anyone know a way to make a plasma cloud up when
hit by UV light?)

I last heard this kind of technology mentioned for 3D printing,
using a solution which solidified when hit by two lasers at
the same time. I'm not sure that anything ever came of it, though.

You also have to worry a bit where the lasers go after they
leave the display area. :-)

--
Fluppeteer




RE: Interesting, but not the holy grail
By rushnrockt on 2/10/2006 11:27:12 AM , Rating: 2
"I last heard this kind of technology mentioned for 3D printing,
using a solution which solidified when hit by two lasers at
the same time. I'm not sure that anything ever came of it, though."

Would that happen to be rapid prototyping? Which is basically an industry in itself nowadays? I am pretty sure that's what you are talking about.

"You also have to worry a bit where the lasers go after they
leave the display area. :-)"
My guess would be that they lose focus, so no worries, it won't burn your hair off.



By bob661 on 2/10/2006 11:47:32 AM , Rating: 2
I'm more worried about my block and tackle than my hair.


RE: Interesting, but not the holy grail
By woRLD on 2/10/2006 7:43:30 PM , Rating: 2
"I last heard this kind of technology mentioned for 3D printing, using a solution which solidified when hit by two lasers at the same time. I'm not sure that anything ever came of it, though."

Yes, it's called SLA (stereo lithography), and widely used. The equipment is not cheap, but great for essentially faxing a key to someone that's locked out of somewhere across country :-). It's used for rapid-prototyping in R&D environments and for modeling bone structures in the medical industry. I never actually used it, but did some research on it a few years ago (before Google).


By Fluppeteer on 2/11/2006 4:11:36 PM , Rating: 2
> > I last heard this kind of technology mentioned for 3D printing,
> > using a solution which solidified when hit by two lasers at
> > the same time. I'm not sure that anything ever came of it, though.

> Would that happen to be rapid prototyping? Which is basically an
> industry in itself nowadays? I am pretty sure that's what you are
> talking about.

> Yes, it's called SLA (stereo lithography), and widely used. The
> equipment is not cheap, but great for essentially faxing a key to
> someone that's locked out of somewhere across country :-). It's
> used for rapid-prototyping in R&D environments and for modeling
> bone structures in the medical industry. I never actually used it,
> but did some research on it a few years ago (before Google).

Cool - thank you, I consider myself to have been informed. :-)

I think I last read about this technique in a children's book
about future technology in the late 1970s, and managed to miss
all references to it since. Nice to know that they got *something*
right. (The hover cars aren't quite so prevalent...)

I've seen the "3D printers" from ZCorp, which are based on ink-jets,
and are also for prototyping. I guess they're more prone to turn
up at trade shows, since I doubt SLA hardware is very portable!

Thanks for letting me know I wasn't imagining it. :-)

--
Fluppeteer


First dots......then 3d interactive HD porn!!!!
By patentman on 2/10/2006 7:30:32 AM , Rating: 2
Ok, I know its juvenile, but this will revolutionize the porn industry as we know and love it!




By knowyourenemy on 2/10/2006 7:56:45 AM , Rating: 3
Something tells me these sparks of plasma are not going to be healthy for your region.


Starwars/startrek
By goku on 2/10/2006 9:23:44 AM , Rating: 2
Nice... Sounds like we're getting closer and closer to the startrek/starwars universe in terms of technology... Hologram anyone?




RE: Starwars/startrek
By stmok on 2/10/2006 11:43:54 AM , Rating: 2
I'm waiting for Princess Leia to appear. :)


By Search Engines Web on 2/10/2006 7:14:15 PM , Rating: 2
This is only the beginning - the next Evolution of the Web will enable a sense of Virtual Touch - when putting your hand throught the Open Monitor




By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 2/11/2006 1:48:43 PM , Rating: 2
Mandatory Bash.org reponse:

http://bash.org/?4281

Kristopher


A possible way for a true 3D display
By doomie on 2/12/2006 7:39:19 PM , Rating: 2
Is there a way to control magnetic fields to such fine degree that you could apply it to something like Ferrofluid, to form something that would resemble an image?

only prob would be no way to control color..




By patentman on 2/14/2006 7:44:27 AM , Rating: 2
You can control a magnetic field to a very fine degree in terms of field strength, but in terms of direction I don't think we have the technology yet. At least we don't have any elegant solution to direct a magnetic field that I know of.


Hot hot hot!
By Le Québécois on 2/10/2006 1:12:50 AM , Rating: 2
I guess this won't be "interactive" display like the recent Helio display. Touching burning plasma, not good. But other than that it will be cool ( no pun intended ), assuming it can display other thing beside dots.




3d eh?
By IamTHEsnake on 2/11/2006 4:28:42 AM , Rating: 2
Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. Your my only hope.




healthy to inhale?
By Wwhat on 2/15/2006 11:07:02 AM , Rating: 2
I wonder how healthy it is to breath that plasma residue, must be high in ozone content which isn't considered really healthy.




By Goobuntu on 2/15/2006 10:54:58 PM , Rating: 2
Now I can communicate with Emperor Palpatine.




Who cares!?
By bupkus on 2/10/06, Rating: 0
"A politician stumbles over himself... Then they pick it out. They edit it. He runs the clip, and then he makes a funny face, and the whole audience has a Pavlovian response." -- Joe Scarborough on John Stewart over Jim Cramer









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