Gadget

When Will Holographic Phones Be Released?

Holographic Phone by IBMImagine being able to walk next to and talk with the person who just called you on your mobile phone without them actually being there. Sound like science fiction? Once upon a time it was, but telecommunications giant IBM is predicting that in 2015 such telephone systems that use holographic images will exist.

How it works

IBM is actually working on holographic phones right now, and has been since 2010. They predict a working prototype will be available in 2015. Depending on testing, price and a number of other factors, holographic phones could be available to consumers not long after that.

Holographic phones work by sending a three dimensional image to the receiver, whether it is a mobile phone or fixed device, which is then projected from the phone. It gives the impression of the person you are talking to being right there with you, and vice versa.

Surely it’s just science fiction?

According to IBM’s Paul Bloom, holographic phones are much closer to reality than we realise. In an interview he said: “We see 3D technology moving into the cell phone, which will have the ability to transmit information off the cell phone to create a 3D hologram, projecting the hologram on any surface in life size”.

Bloom said IBM was working on the mobile phone holographic image concept image in its labs now. The main obstacle to overcome is to make the cameras that capture the 3D image small enough to fit into a mobile phone. Software also needs to be written to project these images from a phone.

The implications

Other than being a pretty cool technical innovation that surpasses anything before it, such as smartphone apps and customised ringtones, three dimensional images can be an important tool. Bloom gave one example in which a worker could project a holographic image – enlarged if necessary – of an item that required repair. The technician could then literally “walk” through it to detect problems. “The repair person could go inside the device instead of looking it up in a manual,” he said.
Doctors and medical specialists also see the potential of holographic technology that could potentially allow them to make a diagnosis from the other side of the world, or to even carry out surgery remotely. In reality, the images are likely to start off small and as technology improves, the images will be able to get bigger. Walking next to a holographic image of the person you are talking to on the phone may take a little longer to perfect.

3D is already in use

What gives researchers confidence in holographic images is the fact that similar technology is already in use. 3D has come a long way in recent years to the point where movies are regularly screened in this format to provide an enhanced cinematic experience.

3D televisions are also becoming more popular and the technology is rapidly evolving, meaning holographic images and three dimensional video calling are no longer limited to just Hollywood.

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Paul Tomaszewski is a science & tech writer as well as a programmer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of CosmoBC. He has a degree in computer science from John Abbott College, a bachelor's degree in technology from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, and completed some business and economics classes at Concordia University in Montreal. While in college he was the vice-president of the Astronomy Club. In his spare time he is an amateur astronomer and enjoys reading or watching science-fiction. You can follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

4 Comments

  • David

    There’s an actual holographic smartphone, real holograms, not the optimistic holograms of movies (outside a screen or even screen-less)
    Have just launched yesterday: Red Hydrogen One.
    There are holographic screens for PC, small ones, but enough to begin develop content: The Looking Glass

  • alien from vega

    they did that already on cnn ig you hook up all the audio outputs into a phone thing and have something at your house you can try the new technology and then you will have one. Good Day.

  • Aparat sudura

    I cant wait for that moment. Too bad it will work only on wifi. Right now even video calls are having issues on 3g and 4g. Bandwith is limited, speed is throtled … But who knows, maybe they will work over broadband with some good compression. I will get the first pair of those! GO IBM!

  • C.R.

    Practically thinking, I am expecting that the price of this phone blows as high as the ceiling. But, the holographic add-on of that phone will be its cutting edge in the market competition.I am a looking forward for its release, and by that time, what we see in movies nowadays will be in reality.

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