Fairy Lights; Holograms that respond to Human Touch

BY KAYLA NOBREGA

Holograms as a concept have existed since the 1940’s. Holograms currently exist by a variety of means, each with its own benefits and limitations.

One of the limitations of holograms is that they are not fully interactive. Trying to touch a hologram could interfere with how the lazer is reflecting the image, and so interrupt the holographic image on display.

This limitation has been overcome by a team of Japanese scientists from the Digital Nature Group. Using short lazer pulses at very short intervals, a hologram is created that can be felt. The hologram itself reacts to touch by changing shape or moving away.