IO2 develops video displays “out of thin air”
May 17th, 2006
IO2 Technology develops technology relating to next-generation interfaces some of which are not currently available, one platform is—the Heliodisplay.
We’ve all seen the science fiction movies where you can watch tv on a image that is just floating in mid-air, etc. Well this will certainly bring that thought a bit closer to reality.
Heliodisplay images are not holographic although they are free-space, employing a rear projection system in which images are captured onto a nearly invisible plane of transformed air. What the viewer sees is floating mid-air image or video. These projected images and video are two-dimensional space (i.e. planar) but appear 3D since there is no physical depth reference. 
While conventional displays have the benefit of being attached to a physical substrate, Heliodisplay projections are located in air, so you will notice some waviness to the quality of Heliodisplay images.
The Heliodisplay requires a power outlet, and a computer, TV, DVD or alternate video source. The current version of the Heliodisplay projects 30” diagonal images in 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio. 
The Heliodisplay system is backward compatible and accepts most 2D video sources (PC, TV, DVD, HDTV, Video game consoles). For connection to a computer, the Heliodisplay uses a standard monitor VGA connection; for TV or DVD viewing, it connects using a standard video cable. The Heliodisplay is designed to be concealed (i.e. into furniture) and hidden out of sight thereby creating an unobtrusive display. Examples are shown in which the Heliodisplay has been hidden into a coffee table.
You can check out more images and get more information directly from their site. No price listed that I could find….that never bodes well.
Entry Filed under: Gadgets and Gizmos, General Technology, Just Plain Interesting
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