Dr. Elodie Bouzbib from the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), together with Iosune Sarasate, Unai Fernández, Manuel López-Amo, Iván Fernández, Iñigo Ezcurdia, and Asier Marzo, has achieved a breakthrough in three-dimensional display technology. The team successfully demonstrated mid-air 3D graphics that can be manipulated using hand gestures. Both Asier Marzo and Iñigo Ezcurdia are members of the Institute of Smart Cities.
‘What we see in films and call holograms are typically volumetric displays,’ explains Bouzbib, the lead author of the study. ‘These are graphics that appear in mid-air and can be viewed from various angles without the need for wearing virtual reality glasses. They are called true-3D graphics.’ She adds that ‘they are particularly interesting as they allow for the “come-and-interact” paradigm, meaning that the users simply approach a device and start using it.’
The team notes that ‘commercial prototypes of volumetric displays already exist, such as those from Voxon Photonics or Brightvox Inc., but none allow for direct interaction with the holograms.’ Lead researcher Asier Marzo explains that direct interaction involves ‘being able to insert our hands to grab and drag virtual objects.’ He continues: ‘We are used to direct interaction with our phones, where we tap a button or drag a document directly with our finger on the screen – it is natural and intuitive for humans. This project enables us to use this natural interaction with 3D graphics to leverage our innate abilities of 3D vision and manipulation.’
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