Researchers have devised and implemented a simplified algorithm for turning freely drawn lines into holograms on a standard desktop CPU. They dramatically cut down the computational cost and power consumption of holographic algorithms that require dedicated hardware. It is fast enough to convert writing into lines in real time and makes crisp, clear images that meet industry standards. Potential applications include handwritten remote instructions superimposed on landscapes and workbenches.
Flying cars, robots, spaceships, whatever sci-fi future you can imagine, there is always a common feature: holograms. But holography isn’t just about aesthetics. Its potential applications include important enhancements to vital, practical tasks, like remote instructions for surgical procedures, electronic assembly on circuit boards, or directions projected on landscapes for navigation.
The team has proposed and implemented a solution with unprecedented performance. They specifically chose to draw lines exclusively in 3D space. Though this may sound drastic initially, the number of things you can do is still impressive. In a particularly elegant implementation, they connected a tablet to a PC and conventional hologram generation hardware, i.e., a laser and a spatial light modulator.
Making holographic algorithms available in a wide range of settings is vital to bringing this technology out of the lab and into our daily lives. The team is especially focused on implementing heads-up displays (HUDs) in helmets and cars, where navigation instructions might be displayed on the landscape instead of voice instructions or distracting screens.
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