Holographic Keypads Float Into View 291
prostoalex writes "The New York Times tells the story of a Connecticut-based company called HoloTouch that is developing input devices that literally "float in the air". The technology will be licensed for information kiosks in New York city. Some other sample applications are available from the company's Web site. HoloTouch already managed to secure the patent on its technology."
Still using decimal and QWERTY though. (Score:2, Interesting)
real, or just killing real invention? (Score:5, Interesting)
But have they really been able to build one, or are they just patenting the idea with hopes someone else will and they they can sue and get rich? I see nothing on their website (other than very obviously mocked up fake pictures) or in the patent that says they really know how to do this.
Re:Is that legit? (Score:4, Interesting)
Wait a second (Score:2, Interesting)
problems (Score:3, Interesting)
But...... it can't be used as a long term replacement for a keyboard. A regular keyboard provides lift to the fingers when releasing the keys, thus reducing the work on the fingers. This cuts down on RSIs.
hazard? (Score:1, Interesting)
I could see a pilot accidently put his hand through the controls and eject himself.
Even if it does work it would probably be more of an inconvenience/hazard than a help.
Re:Is that legit? (Score:3, Interesting)
Even worse, someone can wait until the faster than light spaceship is invented, then use it to travel back in time and then patent it!
No, the patent office does not require working models any longer (not for quite some time). But I think that it could still be a good legal argument when defending against a patent that the patent holder did not really invent anything and that they just tried squatting on an idea (one that is hardly theirs), gave the public nothing of any value for the patent, and so are not entitled to patent protection when an unimplimented bit of sciece fantasy gets patented. I sure hope so, because unless these guys reallu have built The hologram projector 200 I would hate to see them profit on this any more than just bilking investors.
Re:look before leap (Score:4, Interesting)
Poppy cock. Of course you can see a hologram with only one eye!
You just can't see a stereoscopic vision allowing you to definitely position the object in three dimensional space. But the eyes use other cues than stereoscopic vision to determine position, cues like parallax and brightness, as well as ocular focus.
Re:real, or just killing real invention? (Score:4, Interesting)
Good question, but that's not the issue. People seem to be believe this company has invented a new type of holographic technology -- they haven't. What they've done is invented a method to accept tactile-less input from a hologram, regardless of the holographic techonology. That's why the images are fakes.
What this company needs now is a partner who has some good holographic technology in the works.
Optical Illusion workaround (Score:5, Interesting)
Instead of making holographic keypads, make use of the double-parabolic-mirror optical illusion. You know the kind, shown in Edmund Scientific, where there are floating coins in the air. That is clearly not a hologram, but it would work just as well.
If you feel at all inclined to make something, bookmark this reply!
- MickLinux
Summary of actual hardware (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:But could you really type on it? (Score:3, Interesting)
They've also done testing on usability. Touch typists can adapt and achieve about 60% of their electro-mechanical keyboard speeds.
Killer App for PDA's (Score:4, Interesting)
Hence - this device would be the savior of the PDA industry.
Re:real, or just killing real invention? (Score:3, Interesting)
Great, it looks cool. But I won't be really impressed until they can do it *with* tactile input.
I had a little think about that, and I wonder if an small targeted electric/static charge could be used to simulate a touch sensation, or perhaps find a way to manipulate water vapour (or something else?) in the air - eg flash freeze a very thin layer just before finger "contact". I'm just pulling this out of my ass, but there must be a way of doing it...
Re:Comments about device (Score:4, Interesting)
Amazingly, a hologram may be cut in half and you will still see the entire image. And you can cut one of the pieces in half again and again and see the entire image. Every part of the hologram has received and recorded light from the entire object!
Now how does it work? Basically, a film hologram is more than just a fancy trick you are playing with light; the entire piece of film is involved in recreating the image. Every piece of film holds all of the information about the object and they all contribute to the whole. By reducing the size of the film; you simply reduce the size of the object.
A better explanation: http://www.emergentmind.org/miller-webbI3b.htm
oh and as for other neat treaks with film holograms? Let's say you have a complicated, fussy optics array. You spend days tuning it and getting it perfectly in focus. Now let's say this optics array is going to be used to focus the aiming laser on an abrams tank. Or as the projection lens for the periscope in a submarine.
You COULD ruggedize the whole setup, and field tune it occasionally.
But you could also use holography; you take a hologram of the entire setup, and the hologram acts exactly like the original optics, up to the resolution of the hologram, at the wavelength you used. You can make what's called a whitelight or broadband hologram.
I don't know why the eyeglasses companies haven't latched onto this. Cheap, light eyeglasses that don't need to be ground or anything. Just cut out the shape to fit the eyepiece, patch it in, and go.