Once researchers can figure out how to replace images more quickly (a pulsed laser is being considered), these images will look better as they are enlarged. Peyghambarian says that the new polymer must be made in pieces at least one square foot (929 square centimeters) before most people will take notice. The next step would be making a polymer that can display multicolored 3-D images.
Taken together, in the near future these developments could allow doctors to use the film to render three-dimensional images of the body (in green, for example) and highlight (in red) tumors and other serious medical conditions for analysis prior to surgery. Likewise, military leaders will be able to consult portable 3-D holographic maps of battlefields that automatically update as new intelligence becomes available.
Once the challenges of image replacement speed and resolution are met, home electronics makers will have what they need to create displays that can store an entire 3-D movie or video game—maybe even several—thus banishing today's much-coveted flat-panel TVs to the guest room or basement.
Holographic Sensors
Holograms will also be used increasingly as sensor devices that change image and color when introduced to different stimuli. Take the hydrogel-based holograms made by Smart Holograms, a company spun out from the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge in England. These holograms are part of the company's hand-held syringe system that measures water content in aviation fuel—necessary because excess moisture of more than 30 parts water to fuel can block aircraft fuel supply systems and stall engines during flight. The holograms react automatically when exposed to different stimuli—a gelatin-based substance in the hologram either swells or contracts in the presence of liquid, depending upon the concentration of water. Smart Holograms is also developing sensors that use holograms to alert diabetic patients and their doctors to dangerous glucose levels.
Holographic Medicine
Emerging holographic and hologramlike technologies also promise to help physicians more precisely guide cancer treatments within their patients. In particular, Actuality Medical, Inc., in Bedford, Mass., is developing volumetric 3-D display devices that use data from computed tomography (CT) scans and other three-dimensional data to create lifelike computer renderings of portions of the body that doctors can study from different angles as though it were the real thing. These include the PerspectaRAD, a device that combines cancer-treatment software, a volumetric 3-D display and a haptic (or touch-based) interface that enables health care workers to visualize the location of a tumor and map out a treatment that minimizes damage to healthy tissue as well as ongoing development of the PerspectaSeed 4-D for treating prostate cancer and the MammoSolve for breast lumpectomy. "Think of this," says company CEO Michael Goldstein, "as GPS for the surgeon."
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7 Comments
Add CommentI hope that in 50 years I can buy a 3D TV and complain that back in my day you could only watch from one perspective
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this30+ years ago we created holograms on film that did not require special glasses but only a somewhat collimated light source.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDear SciAm Editors,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe recent work of Professor Peyghambarian and his colleagues at the University of Arizona on novel photorefractive polymers is impressive indeed. Professor Peyghambarian and his research group have been major contributors to this field for many years, and their publications and presentations attest to their brilliance and creativity. One concern, however, pertains to the absence of historical context pertaining to the field: The investigation of the photorefractive effect, it materials, its fundamental properties, and novel applications has been the topic of intense international research for many decades now. In fact, one of the first potential applications proposed was in the field of dynamic holographic storage and retrieval. And, related research on data and image storage persistence, read/write temporal dynamics, image processing, multiple holographic exposures and optical erasure, among other topics, has been the focus of many papers and conference presentations over the past decades. Several seminal reference textbooks have also been published over the years devoted entirely to the photorefractive effect (since the 1980s), as have myriad topical conferences, scholarly publications and issued patents. In fact, a feature article on these same pages appeared in the October 1990 issue of Scientific American, in which photorefractive polymers was noted (although in its infancy at the time). The existence of this background information, is, by no means whatsoever, meant to take away any credit from Professor Peyghambarian and his group for their excellent and continued research efforts --- which has the real potential to establish commercial pathways for practical devices and systems based on dynamic holography. In fact, my comment may be more of a reflection on ones due diligence for not placing this research in its proper context or, at least, providing links to relevant photorefractive references for the readership to peruse, especially in this highly regarded publication. Having authored several Scientific American articles, I fully appreciate the constraints that place limits on details and information content in these publications, but these should not be at the expense of perspective.
Sincerely,
David M. Pepper, PhD
change the stupid caption of the picture. 4 square inches are NOT 10 centimeters
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswalt nothmann
nothman@bezeqint.net
Seems like the difference between this and the past research on 3d displays is the refreshing property (erasing/recording) and how fast it is for such a large piece of hologram, and the potential to scaling to even larger sizes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm not surprised that 30 parts water per fuel would be a problem, but I wonder what they meant to say?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi want to know how to make a hologram. or may a hologram is fitted in specs? reply anyone. i am a student.
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