Until recently, holograms were too bulky and complex to be implemented in consumer technology. However, some companies are working on developing holographic displays for smartphones, which could revolutionize the way we interact with our mobile devices.
What are holographic displays, and how they work
Holographic displays are also known as light-field displays because they create a field of light that simulates the depth and perspective of a 3D scene. Unlike conventional 2D displays that emit light in all directions, holographic displays emit light beams that are collimated (parallel) and modulated (controlled) to create different images for different viewing angles. This way, the viewer can see a 3D image that changes according to their position and eye movement.
In order to achieve this effect, holographic displays use various components such as micro-LEDs (or lasers), waveguides, microlenses, image processors and cameras. Each pixel on a holographic display consists of a layer of red, green and blue micro-LEDs (or lasers) that can emit any colour of light in a thin beam. Under each pixel, there is a small silicon image processor that modulates the power and direction of the light beam. The light beams then pass through vertical waveguides that control their angle and direction. Finally, an array of microlenses focuses and directs the light beams toward the viewer’s eyes.
Next, we need additional components to capture 3D holograms on mobile devices. For example, four front-facing cameras can track the user’s eyes to create a personalized 3D image for each eye. Alternatively, a flexible smartphone can bend its structure to adjust the depth and perspective of the 3D image according to the user’s touch input.
Holographic smartphone advantages
Holographic smartphones have several advantages over conventional 2D displays. For example:
- They offer a more immersive and realistic viewing experience for photos, videos and games;
- They enable new forms of interaction and communication, such as gesture control, eye tracking and face recognition;
- They allow users to view multiple contents simultaneously from different perspectives without switching screens or apps;
- They reduce eye strain and fatigue by eliminating the discrepancy between focus and convergence, which occurs with stereoscopic 3D displays.
Conclusion
Holographic smartphones are an emerging technology that promises to revolutionize the way we view and interact with digital content. By using advanced techniques such as light-field display, nanotechnology and eye tracking, they can create realistic 3D images that enhance our visual experience and enable new forms of communication. However, they also face technical challenges, such as power consumption, brightness and resolution, and social challenges, such as privacy and ethics, that need to be addressed before they can become widely adopted by consumers.
