How close are we to seeing holograms on the big screen? The answer is closer than you might think. Thanks to advances in metasurface materials, artificial intelligence and volumetric display technologies, researchers and filmmakers are exploring new ways to create realistic and immersive holographic experiences for cinema audiences.
The Challenges of Holographic Movies
One of the main challenges of creating holographic movies is generating and displaying high-quality 3D images that can be viewed from any angle by multiple viewers simultaneously. Traditional methods of producing holograms, such as surface-relief holograms stamped onto plastic, have low image quality, still imagery, and limited viewing angle. They are useful for security purposes or decorative effects but not for immersive storytelling.
Another challenge is recording and processing 3D information from real-life scenes or computer-generated models. To create a realistic hologram, one needs to capture or calculate how light rays interact with every point on the surface of an object from different perspectives. It requires a lot of data and computational power, which can be prohibitive for real-time applications.
However, recent technological advances have opened up new possibilities for overcoming these challenges and bringing holographic movies closer to reality. One promising approach is using metasurfaces.
What are metasurfaces?
Metasurfaces are thin films of artificial materials that can manipulate light in ways natural materials cannot. They consist of tiny repeating patterns of nanostructures smaller than the wavelength of light. By changing the shape and arrangement of these nanostructures, metasurfaces can alter the path, phase, polarization, and intensity of light.
Metasurfaces have many potential applications, such as lenses, antennas, sensors, cloaking devices, and holograms. For example, researchers at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) have demonstrated a genuine holographic movie using an array of 48 rectangular frames of a metasurface made primarily of gold. Each frame contains a different image of a rotating Earth that diffracts laser light into a 3D hologram viewable from most angles in the room. The movie is played back by sequentially reconstructing each frame at a rate of 30 frames per second.
What is tensor holography?
Tensor holography is a new method that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate 3D holograms in real time. It was developed by researchers at MIT who trained a deep neural network to learn how to encode 3D objects into complex patterns of light called tensors. Tensors are multidimensional arrays of numbers that can capture more information than traditional 2D images.
Tensor holography can produce high-quality holograms with a full parallax (meaning they change perspective as you move around them) and minimal noise (meaning they look smooth and clear). It can also run on low-power devices such as smartphones and laptops. This could enable the creation of holograms for various applications such as virtual reality (VR), 3D printing, medical imaging, education, and entertainment.
What is volumetric cinema?
Volumetric cinema is an artistic exploration of 360-degree 3D holographic cinema. The project aims to push the boundaries of storytelling using cutting-edge technology called Voxon VX1.
Voxon VX1 is a 3D volumetric display that creates dynamic images by rapidly projecting slices of light onto a spinning screen. Unlike conventional screens showing flat or stereoscopic images that require glasses or headsets, volumetric displays show 3D images that can be seen from any angle without any device.
Volumetric cinema uses Voxon VX1 to create immersive narratives that invite viewers to interact with floating characters and scenes. The project draws inspiration from pre-digital cinema techniques such as magic lanterns, shadow puppets, and zoetropes. It also challenges viewers to rethink their relationship with media and space.
Conclusion
Holographic technology is not just a fantasy anymore. It is becoming more accessible and affordable thanks to innovations in metasurface materials, artificial intelligence, and volumetric display technologies. These technologies offer new possibilities for creating realistic and immersive holographic experiences for cinema audiences and beyond. As researchers and filmmakers continue to experiment with these technologies, we may soon witness the dawn of a new era of cinematic art and entertainment.
