Star Trek Holodeck Holographic Tech becoming a reality

Future vision concept art of room scale holographic display from Light Field Lab, Inc.

OTOY (Octane Rendering) is teaming up with startup Light Field Lab to build holographic content. Light Field Lab raised $7 million this year to complete a prototype of a display technology which is similar to Star Trek’s holodeck. Light Field Lab’s Holographic tech will be installed in the walls of a room to immerse multiple people in virtual worlds without any headgear. 

According to Light Field Lab’s CEO Jon Karafin they’ve been demonstrating prototypes already this year with “No headgear, no head-tracking, no vergence/accommodation conflict, no motion latency, no headaches or eye strain, nor other artifacts associated with other non-holographic technologies,” Karafin wrote in an email. “The panels are flat panel, solid state and directly emissive— meaning there are no moving parts or arrays of projectors or cumbersome accessories. When you see the holographic objects with the prototype system, your eye naturally focuses on the actual object in space, and your brain tells you it’s floating right there in front of you — because it is a dense holographic projection with converging ray bundles that form real images.  The current prototype represents the foundational building block that produces large format panels, walls, and surfaces as we head into manufacturing next year.”

The founder of OTOY Jules Urbach also has a goal of creating Star Trek’s holodeck. OTOY (Octane Rendering) is used by film industry professionals to create hyper realistic scenes like the opening sequence of Westworld. Now imagine walking into a room not knowing any of this. 

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Blade Runner Virtual Tour

Have you ever wanted to walk around Deckard's apartment in Blade Runner? Now you can. This VR version, of the inside of Deckard's apartment from the first Blade Runner was created by the talented artist Quentin Lengele. 

Here is the link to experience it for yourself. http://www.br9732.com

Below are a few screen shots.

I have to admit, this looks pretty amazing. Great work!

The detail is incredible.

It even features the music of Vangelis.

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Technology ahead of it's time

The image above is of a man in a very bizarre looking helmet, with an oxygen tank attached. Is it cosplay? an astronaut? or maybe underwater gear? Nothing that cool. This happy little device is called, "The Isolator" invented in 1925 by Hugo Gernsback to eliminate noise. Yep, that's right, if you are sitting at your desk right now at work trying to concentrate on reading this and having trouble, it's a good time to slip one on and focus.

It was ahead of it's time indeed, because in 1925 they didn't have nearly the amount of distractions that we have today. The only problem I can think of is that while wearing it, I probably wouldn't get much work done anyway because I would be constantly checking my oxygen gauge to make sure it didn't run out. Death by suffocation at your desk is not fun.

We all know that technology has shrunk in size over the years, the chart above confirms that, but what about technology that was ahead of it's time?

Smart Phone Circa 1880, this early switchboard operator hardware weighed 6 pounds.

TV-Helmet (Portable living room), 1967

Prototypes, a series of sculptures made in the ’60s by Walter Pichler, explore the overlap of architecture/design/sculpture. The materials (polyester, Plexiglas, PVC, aluminum, inflatable elements) used by the Austrian artist were new at the time. The idea is there, and it's solid even if it looks weird. But think about augmented reality glasses, Augmented Reality Smart Glasses or your portable smart phone today. Video-on-demand had it's price in 1967.

Vintage Sound locator's are strange, and they came in a whole range of different sizes.
The Topophone, as it is known, was invented by Alfred M. Mayer in 1880. We still use them today, and the amazing thing is how much it has changed over time. Bionic Ear Electronic Listening Device

This is possibly one of the first hearing aids created in 1912. We know now that today might not even be able to see it if someone is wearing one. Micro Hearing Amplifier

Hugo Gernsback wearing his "teleyeglasses" in 1963. Yep, he's back with another invention ahead of it's time. This is pretty impressive seeing how Virtual Reality Headsets Virtual Reality System are just now really starting to pick up steam, to be practical.

Haus Rucker Co., Mind Expander, Vienna, 1967.

The Mind Expander allowed two people to isolate themselves from their environment and enter in spiritual communion with each other... The Mind Expanding Program aimed to explore the inner world, and to improve the psychological capacity of those who took part in the individual elements, as well as those who witnessed them in some way.
The moral to this story, is that if you have an idea and it sounds really wacky, it might be today, but not tomorrow.

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Blade Runner 2049: Memory Lab

Replicants and humans alike can uncover a thrilling conspiracy as they explore their memories with the help of a holographic AI. Featuring fully volumetric characters and interactive elements, this sprawling 360° experience lets you dive into the Blade Runner universe like never before, uncovering clues—and evidence you’ll need to hide.

Step inside the shoes of a blade runner in Memory Lab on Gear VR and Rift today!

— The Oculus Team

More info here...

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Blade Runner 2049: Replicant Pursuit Game Debuts at Comic-Con

Blade Runner 2049: Replicant Pursuit

Step inside a dystopian near-future Los Angeles with Blade Runner 2049: Replicant Pursuit, coming to Gear VR on July 21!

Check it out today!

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