Sony Unveils Prototype 360 Degree Autostereoscopic Cylindrical Display
Source/Type:  LIGHTimes Online - News - Staff reports

Author: LIGHTimes News Staff

July 28, 2010... 3D displays have been a mainstay of science fiction for years. While many depictions have full-color images projected into mid-air, the technology has not gotten there yet. However, Sony has created a full color, cylindrical 3D display prototype. The prototype 3D display does not require glasses. Sony unveiled the device at Siggraph in LA. It has a cylindrical shape that allows viewing of an object from any angle at one degree intervals at the same time. The Raymodeler 360 degree autostereoscopic device uses a set of formulas to create the images based on 8 x 2D digital images 45 degrees apart. The formulas transform Cartesian coordinates (x,y,z) to cylindrical ones. Standard 3D modeling software can do this as well. The compact device uses LED backlighting. Gesture sensors allow viewers to control and interact with volumetric objects from all angles. It creates 360 unique 24 bit color images that are revealed at the same time. It measures 13 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height. People can sense the depth of an object because left and right eyes see different images. A graphics processor allows the user to interact with the images in real time. A video on Youtube shows a 3D pong-like video game in which a bouncing ball removes bricks. Another part of the demonstration shows a woman's torso in 3D. Such a device could easily be used for teaching, entertainment, marketing, or communications. A video about the device is available on Youtube.

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