What is a 3D hologram? The question is a bit redundant because holograms should inherently be 3D by traditional definitions. But, the term works to express the realistic dimensionality and depth of successfully rendered holograms, which are the goal of the holography industry leaders working today. Holograms, however, have the additional task of shedding some of the stigma tied to the 3D label that has been heaped on the term by lesser 3D technologies of the past and shoddy applications. To overcome this hurdle, companies specializing in hologram technology are making practical applications across multiple industries a priority, spending the time, money, and development necessary to realize 3D holograms as truly elegant additions to the techno-landscape of modern media and business.
Non-Holographic 3D Technologies
3D has infiltrated the corners of cultural craze at different points of the modern age in both stationary form and in motion. Unfortunately, many of the go-to examples of 3D interest of the past point to fleeting trends that tarnish the notion with a sense of limited scope and dated fascination. Of course, there are other uses of 3D technology, like the industry-standardized 3D modeling software programs used to render products and buildings and the special effects software driving contemporary motion pictures, that enjoy loads of respect and regular use within their specific professional fields. Still, the notion of 3D as a media option continues to conjure embarrassing memories of Magic Eye posters in malls across America and schlocky 3D movies that might otherwise be passed up if not for the titillating promise of 3D engagements.
The 3D Spell of Magic Eye
Anyone who was around in the 1990s eventually came face to face with the psychedelic renderings of Magic Eye, the populous autostereogram puzzles composed of visual collages of intricately patterned colors that rendered whimsical 3D images when viewed with a passive eye. The technique behind Magic Eye’s optical illusions is based on the 1959 research of neuroscientist and psychologist Bela Julesz. The 90s fad updated the technique with the modern application of computers to precisely organize the intricate patterns of dots needed to trick our brains into processing autostereograms as 3D designs. While the popularity of Magic Eye in the US was once big enough to justify dedicating whole mall kiosks across the nation to their sales, the appeal dwindled rapidly and today it is but a lingering sense memory for most. In retrospect, the undoing of Magic Eye points–unsurprisingly–to its limited scope and failure to evolve 3D’s appeal beyond the simple gimmick.
The Spectacle of 3D Movies
A similar critique can be applied to 3D movies of old, particularly those tracking from its initial boom in the 1950s through staggered resurgences into the 1980s. Like Magic Eye, the technique of 3D cinema predates its waves of popularity. 3D film techniques reach back into the 19th century. And, a formal commercial debut for the medium is now a century old, with the premiere of the lost, silent film The Power of Love in Los Angeles in 1920. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that 3D film became a viable commodity for the Hollywood studios, and even then the word “viable” carries a strong asterisk. Hollywood, facing declining ticket sales and weakened financial control, sought spectacular ways of reinvigorating the cinematic experience. 3D became one of many technological gambits used to get audiences back into theater seats. Unlike widescreen formats and Technicolor–two other technical advancements of the time that had had much more lasting artistic impacts–3D remained a novelty act through the decades, used time and again to boost interest in movies that critics and audiences alike often deemed “lesser fare.” So was the case in the 1950s, with titles like Bwana Devil, House of Wax, and The Mad Magician, as it was into the 1980s, where horror films and sequels made 3D a calling card of cinematic mediocrity (see: Friday the 13th Part III and Jaws 3D).
Why 3D Movies Fall Flat
This period of 3D film was hindered in part by the technology itself, which was rudimentary at its base and failed to evolve over the years into a more refined medium. For decades, the system relied on clunky 3D anaglyph glasses that filtered one eye through a red lens and the other through a cyan lens to generate a stereoscopic 3D image that showcased decent depth of field but drastically distorted the original image’s colors. To boot, it significantly reduced the brightness of films resulting in a drab viewing experience.
Finally Improving On 3D Movies
It wasn’t until the 1990s and into the 2000s, that audiences finally saw advancements in the 3D cinema process, as IMAX and theme parks started to integrate 3D films into their unique, prestige experiences. Those rinky dink paper glasses with red and cyan lenses were upgraded to polarized, tinted grey lenses inserted into sturdy, reusable plastic frames. Brightness continued to be a problem, one that required boosting the brightness levels of projects and/or using brighter bulbs altogether to address. Applying 3D film to theme park rides introduced a much needed sense of innovation to 3D film, as did the application of 3D to breathtaking nature documentaries, which, when shown in the large format venues of IMAX theaters, elevated the reputation and appeal of 3D film for the first time in decades. As a result, the turn of the century saw a new boom in 3D interest on the big screen, including 3D theatrical viewings of some of the biggest films of the time, like James Cameron’s monster hits Avatar and Titanic, and Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Trilogy.
Too Little Too Late
Unfortunately for 3D film, interest again dissipated. The enhancements to the technological form and even the association with higher-caliber content were not enough to sustain 3D film to the present day. 3D theatrical screenings are no longer common options and the throughways that 3D televisions were starting to make into home viewing have long since dried up.
The 3D Hologram Is Rebranding Dimensional Media
Leading holography companies are working to revitalize the reputation of 3D by developing elegant hologram technology and applying it in truly impactful ways. Holograms are inherently 3D and, unlike the 3D of Magic Eye or even motion pictures, a 3D hologram is truly dimensional. It is not the illusion of depth, but rather a fully rendered image that invites angled perspectives and even interactive adjustment. The appeal of scalable content visible from infinite perspectives can’t be overstated and applications span numerous industries from medical to media and design to defense.
IKIN Is Addressing Past 3D Shortcomings At The Outset
The San Diego-based technology-driven business solutions company IKIN is one of those industry leaders helping to redefine 3D in the minds of businesses and consumers with its 3D hologram platforms, like the RYZ portable holographic display that works with mobile devices including leading smartphones and the IKIN ARC 3D hologram projector for viewing larger holograms. Immediately addressing the historical shortcomings of 3D film, IKIN’s holographic devices generate crisp, full-color 3D holograms viewable in ambient light and work without the aid of glasses. The accompanying RYZ SDK allows developers to convert 2D content into 3D holograms and to create original holographic content to ensure that holograms are easily accessible, abundant, and customizable to the needs of commercial and consumer users.
Applying IKIN’s 3D Hologram To Real-world Industries
The Volumetric nature of IKIN’s 3D hologram means that its content is highly interactive. Users can zoom in, out, and around with ease to view their holograms from all angles. Engineers, architects, and inventors could use holograms to virtually realize their ideas, test design features, and plan manufacturing and construction expenses. Similarly, medical practitioners could use holographic imaging to think three-dimensionally about illnesses and procedures, as a tool for in-person and remote training, and to better visually illustrate diagnoses with patients. And, of course, 3D holograms can also be applied to media and entertainment, introducing 3D realism and increased engagement into everything from cinema to videogames, communication technologies, and a slew of IoT devices. The diversity and impact of these real-world applications promise a staying power of the 3D hologram beyond that of past 3D technologies. Companies like IKIN are setting a high bar for their hologram technology from the get-go and are looking well beyond the horizon at how their 3D hologram will be put to good use.
