For a few years now holograms have revolutionized our world. It’s gone through many stages, changes, and upgrades. The word hologram is one that can have many definitions depending on the type, for today’s purpose, which is human holograms we will state the following definition.
A recording of a pattern interference which can reproduce 3D field using diffraction, that field will generate an image. It retains the depths of a physical entity that it is showing called a Hologram. The process of making one is called holography (a technique created by physics).
There are different forms of holograms and different types. It’s most likely possible that you have come in contact with some form or type of hologram at one time or another and maybe even on a daily basis.
Unlike the photograph that you can touch which contains an image of the corresponding portion of the original object and if one is broken you lose the entire image. A hologram is different, each section contains complete images of original objects, however, you cannot touch them. If a plate containing a Hologram is broken, each will still be able to show the whole image.
Common Hologram Types and Uses
Types of holograms:
- Transmission- allows light to be shined through the back and to be viewed from the side. Object and film are on the same side. Cost is less if produced in large quantities. Uses laser light. Its image is commonly sharp and deep.
- Reflection -viewed when lit from the front. Its images are of high quality, therefore, costing more. This type you will most likely find in galleries. Recently we have seen them in color. Object and film are on the opposite sides.
- Hybrid – a combination of transmission and reflection. You do not need an object of this type. The interference is managed digitally.
As previously mentioned, holograms are used in various fields and for many purposes for example:
- military mapping – for soldiers, with 3D maps soldiers are able to view three-dimensional terrains which help with mission training.
- information storage – data storage is extremely reliable. It stores data in three-dimensional pages, overlaps storage space
- in the medical field – medical systems generate complex data using advanced imaging technology. For example MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound scans
- fraud and security – holograms cannot be copied by ordinary means giving 100% protection
- The entertainment industry – theaters, amusement parks, cinemas, museums, etc.
Some of these may require a different type of hologram than others. For instance, you probably would use the same type of hologram at a theater as you would for military mapping.
The Pepper’s Ghost Technique
Pepper’s ghost technique is able to transform an object or person into another. Using Pepper’s ghost, you have the illusion of seeing something or someone appears from nowhere or disappear. This technique is commonly used in cinemas, amusement parks, museums, and many other places. There are many ways to insert a “ghost” using this technique and knowing which one to use depends on how you want your “ghost” to appear or where.
How the Pepper’s Ghost Illusion Is Made
1) One way to create the Pepper’s ghost illusion: You need live characters and the main background in front of the audience and “ghost” is placer off to the side out of sight.
2) the second room needs to be a dark or mirror image of your main background and position sheet of plexiglass in front of an audience, set it at a 45-degree angle for both audience and “ghost”, leaving background clearly visible but also partially reflecting the image of a ghost. Audience sees transparent ghost in front of them
Uses of the Pepper’s Ghost Technique
Peppers ghost was a more commonly used technique for making those who have passed away come to life. Pepper’s Ghost is a method which uses reflective panel like surface that is angled towards booth located underneath stage. This allows an image to be projected elsewhere through the mirror looking translucid giving a 3D illusion even though it actually is bidimensional. $100,000-$400,000 is the approximate cost for this method.
Digital Light Projections
Another technique used to give that illusion of someone being in a certain place when they actually are not was invented by Emulsion Eyeline Projections using some thin sheet of Mylar to reflect digital versions of real people. This technique uses a digital light processing projector (DLP) used in movie theaters to place photo onto reflective metallic screen. This setup only requires one room, the screen is usually at a 45-degree angle and the projector resides beneath the stage area pointing and projecting upward.
To create you need:
- an object or person to record
- laser to be shined upon person and recording medium
- Proper materials needed to clarify image
- clear environment to enable light to intersect
Procedure:
- Light is split in two identical lasers and redirected by use of mirrors
- one of split beams, illumination or object is directed at object
- Some of this light is projected off object onto recording medium
- Second laser known as the reference is directed onto the recording medium as to not conflict with any imagery that comes from the object and coordinates with it to create a more precise picture in the other location enabling resolution to be higher for two beams, making the picture look more realistic than the material used in 1960s.
Evercoast Holographic Imaging
computer vision and 3D sensing software company that can make holographic images in real-time using 5G. This company’s mission is to shift how people communicate from 2D to 3D. This technology could change shopping, corporate training,distant learning, and much more. Evercoast is worlds first hologram one-to-many communication platform.
Average price of for human image using this method can range from $500-$3,500 depending on location.
To create you need:
- requires two rooms
- specifically placed glass
- carefully controlled lighting
- room adjacent to viewing area or stage
- viewing area needs to be unlit or painted black
- staging area at first must be brightly lit then lights dimmed slightly
- in other area or mirror picture room, lights need to be slightly raised as to have non physical person to appear
Hologram from Heaven
Usually Pepper’s Ghost technique is used for its three dimensional effect. This type of hologram is a very emotional one. To be able to see, even though you know it’s not the actual person, your loved one who has passed away once again. Many would give anything for this type of experience. For example there have been many of these made for celebrities such as, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, and even Ronald Reagan.
Estimated costs for these may be anywhere from $18,000 to $100,000. Plenty is involved in making this magical moment happen. From foil, tension, bounce screen, projection, drapes, computer controller, and stage. Then there are also shipping and set up fees and also depends on Projection size. Too high of price for average person. However, these prices most likely will drop as more and more technology is innovated.
Futuristic holograms promise ultra-realistic human telepresence, a 3D display system developed by researchers in Canada which transmits full size, 360-degree angle picture of a human that can be seen without any special gadgets or fast-moving mirrors.
Bringing remote participation in meeting and conferences to virtual stage appearances at concerts. Holographic television may have performers into viewers houses sooner than we think. Fiber-optic communication systems will be able to transmit holographic pictures.
Where are we today in regards to being able to send a hologram of ourselves in real-time? How much from movies have we been able to make a reality in terms of holograms/3D? Experts have gotten pretty close to cinematic effects.
Introduction to the PORTL Company & Modern Holograms
A company in California, founded by David Nussbaum, called PORTL Inc. has come up with a phone booth like machine that can literally transport a hologram of you to where ever you want. Image which is extremely lifelike! They are calling this process “telepresence” or “Holoportation”. Chief Executive David Nussbaum calls this “HoloPod ration”.
All you need is a white wall and a camera in order to record yourself (transport) to another place where they would need to have the PORTL Booth. This booth is seven feet tall, five feet wide and two feet deep. You can see, hear and interact with your audience in 4K holographic resolution, and is also equipped with facial recognition.
The lighting inside the booth is distributed evenly so that image looks solid inside the booth. It also has “motion capture” detecting someone walking in front of screen. No need to have lights off! This is completely in broad daylight.
PORTL can be networked by several machines at once. To operate you would plug it into a wall outlet. Unlike Pepper’s ghost technique, this booth uses embedded 4K resolution into a light box which gives the 3D effect of depth. “Using their custom made screens them send a 2D image into a 3D space and therefore the fired perspective cause he viewer to experience parallax between the image and the rear of the PORTL creating the volumetric-like effect.” Says David Nussbaum.
The person receiving the holograms would have to have one of these phone booth like machines. For now, due to it’s size, this machine is more equipped for businesses, for instance, medical field, entertainment definitely, any field really. Besides it being able to hologram in real-time it can also do holograms that have been recorded. Allowing you to once again see a loved one that has passed away.
The price starts at $60,000 and may go up to $85,000 if equipped with artificial intelligence technology for hologram recording which can be archived for the 7 ft machine at the moment, but should eventually drop in the next few years. The holoportal comes with a mobile app from which you can access your content wether it be live or prerecorded.
You can livestream into app which connects to the PORTL device. All in real-time. For in home use PORTL. Is developing a smaller in-home version. They are hoping to very soon have them out in the market at a reduced price. At the moment they advertise the PORTL Epic ,which is the full size 7ft. booth, the PORTL Live Beam Kit, and they announce coming soon the PORTL Mini.
Today many machines have been shipped out for work and entertainment purposes worldwide.
The COVID-9 outbreak has many companies looking towards alternatives such as working with PORTL. Inc or WeWork in order to have work at home employees or hybrid , where they would only come into the office on given days. Different ideas have been floating around as well as pricing .
WeWork would charge $2,500 for holograms on a standard HoloPod at a single location and $25,000 for multiple holograms appearing simultaneously on a shared virtual stage was one example. The reasoning for holograms instead of what we use now such as Zoom, is that holograms would give more of a natural feel.
PORTL Epic Hologram Projection Machine
- High Fidelity Stereo Speakers, one on each side
- Built-in motion camera (includes a sensor-enabled front camera so that you are able to see your audience)
- 4K Touch Screen
- can “beam” people in from anywhere around the world
- plays generated holograms and animations
PORTL Production Studio Kit
Consumer
Camera, lighting, audio, green screen, and recording/live streaming equipment. They recommend this for small spaces like offices and studios
Prosumer Kit
This kit comes with advanced camera, lighting, audio and its equipment
Professional Kit
Best imagery and content capture quality
Live Beam Kit
This comes with Encoder, return feed monitor and more accessories
Overview of PORTL Costs
There is a one-time cost for PORTL unit covering costs for hardware, software, installation, and training
For the PORTL Mini, which is in the works, there is talk of perhaps having a $40 monthly cost to cover hardware, software support and possibly exclusive content. This smaller version is said to possibly fit on top of a coffee table. But it will have all the effects of the full-size machine. Per Nussbaum “the Mini PORTL will be a hologram Zoom, meets virtual Alexa mixed with contents in Peloton and Masterclass.”
Nussbaum is working on ideas from his favorite movies and TV shows and making them a reality.
Nussbaum hopes more companies join him and his team in expanding and innovating holoporting. However, companies must weigh the cost of the PORTL, how useful it will be now and how cost-efficient it will be in the long run. A research team has been working on a touch and feel tangible hologram. But for this one they are still in the beginning stages and we wont see anytime soon.