A new dimension in 3D display panels

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5 May 2004 News

Researchers presented a 3D kiosk system at CeBIT where three-dimensional high-resolution objects appear to float in front of the display. Viewers were able to see them with the naked eye and to ‘move’ them by hand.

Electronic kiosk systems allow users to look up information - on museum exhibition pieces, city sight-seeing highlights, or a list of products available from a warehouse. A finger and a touch-sensitive screen are all that is needed to call up the desired information. But until now, it was only displayed in two dimensions. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications HHI developed an interactive 3D kiosk. The system allows users to view objects in 3D without having to wear cumbersome shutter-glasses, and they can rotate and turn the objects using simple hand movements.

At the core of this novel kiosk system is a 3D display called Free2C. Objects appear in photorealistic quality, hovering freely in front of the monitor like a hologram. But how can a two-dimensional display provide this kind of perceived depth without requiring 3D glasses? The principle behind lenticular technology, explains Klaus Schenke of HHI: "The pair of images - one for each eye - are subdivided into fine vertical stripes and alternately displayed next to each other. A prism sheet placed in front of the display guides each image to the appropriate eye. To prevent the viewer from perceiving the separate subimages, a camera in the monitor tracks the position of his head. If the system detects head movement, it automatically adjusts the image stripes for the respective viewing angle."

Unfortunately this process does not allow more than one person to experience the same effect; still it is important to be able to provide 3D images for everyday use that do not require special glasses. Another requirement of kiosk systems in practical use is that they "must also be simple and intuitive to operate", according to Schenke.

"For this reason, we integrated a system into the control console that can recognise a person's hand and its gestures. For example, if the user wants to view a sculpture from another side, he can simply turn the virtual 3D model by hand. The camera captures this movement and the computer determines how far the piece has to be turned. Guests can even interact with the user guide, which also appears to float in front of the display, just by pointing a finger," he says.

For more information contact Klaus Schenke, [email protected]

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A new dimension in 3D display panels

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