Holographic Innovations Shine at CES 2024

Each year, the CES conference in Las Vegas unveils cutting-edge holographic technologies, and CES 2024 was no exception. The exhibition, which is probably the most influential tech event of the year, took place 9-12 January, in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

ZEISS

Among the standout exhibitors was ZEISS Micro-optics, presenting its latest developments under the theme ‘Holography for a smarter tomorrow’.

A highlight was the introduction of high- end holographic solutions designed to make driving and daily life safer, more interactive, and more comfortable. Taking advantage of its extensive experience in the aerospace, semiconductor, and medical industries, ZEISS aims to bring holography into the mainstream.

Smart communication and information with transparent displays: ZEISS demonstrated turning transparent surfaces in cars and buildings into displays, projecting information into the driver’s field of view, enhancing safety and minimising distractions.

Variable pane darkening and selective filters: ZEISS’s holographic solutions enable variable pane darkening and selective filters, allowing for controlled management of infrared radiation. This improves temperature regulation, comfort, and energy efficiency in cars and buildings.

Smart detection with an invisible camera: this holography solution integrates with an image sensor to function as an invisible camera. This opens up applications like facial recognition on transparent front doors and driver monitoring in vehicles, improving comfort and safety simultaneously.

Clean design with ‘floating switches’: ZEISS showcased holographic 3D display elements on black panel surfaces. These floating switches are projected when needed, providing designers with newfound freedom in interior and surface design.

Floating switches (© Zeiss).

 

Smart communication and individualisation with light: combinations of micro-optics and holography allow for custom light signatures for personalised lighting moods. This technology contributes to vehicle communications, utilising various surfaces as projection surfaces for information and signalling.

Holoconnects

CES 2024 also witnessed the future of digital content interaction, with Holoconnects taking a leading role. Holoconnects is a technology company specialising in AI-powered holographic solutions.

Amongst their demonstrations at the show, Holoconnects exhibited holographic technology to establish a tangible connection between global citizens and individuals in crisis zones. This aimed to raise awareness and support for the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), showcasing holography’s potential in fostering impactful communication.

The company also demonstrated holographic technology that had presented new sustainability and climate solutions for UNICEF at COP28, highlighting its contribution to a more sustainable world.

At CES Unveiled, a press-only pre-show event, Holoconnects showcased its AI- powered holographic solution, Holobox. The box, similar to a phone booth, can display a full-sized holographic rendering of the person you are talking to with nearly no latency, making it feel like a normal conversation.

ZDNET Editor, Sabrina Ortiz, had the chance to talk to Andre Smith, CEO of Holoconnects, via the Holobox at the event. Even though Andre was in Amsterdam, and Sabrina was 5,000plus miles away in Las Vegas, they were able to carry out a regular conversation with the pauses you would expect from a conversation with a person present in the room.

For Sabrina to see a hologram of Andre he had to be well-lit with a white background, but since Sabrina was standing in the showroom without the proper background and lighting, he couldn’t see a hologram of her but rather a camera shot, similar to a Zoom call.

Swave

Leuven, Belgium–based startup, Swave Photonics, showcased its cutting-edge holographic chips based on proprietary diffractive optics technology. Led by CEO Mike Noonen, the company has emerged as a pioneer in extended reality (XR) with its multi-patented Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) technology, promising a step change improvement in immersive experiences.

Swave Photonics traces its roots to research conducted in the late 2000’s, where the initial exploration of holography with binary modulation paved the way for ground-breaking advances.

In 2016, the project refocused to utilise a method based on standard CMOS chip design – which is already one of the most popular technologies in integrated circuits for computers and phones. This approach allowed the creation of minuscule pixels, forming the foundation of Swave’s HXR technology.

Unlike traditional approaches using MEMS, LCoS, or microLEDs, Swave’s solution incorporates phase-change materials (PCM) on silicon. Theodore Marescaux, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, emphasised that the company has achieved a microscopic hologram with PCM, demonstrating unparalleled depth of focus.

Swave claims its sub ½ wavelength pixel technology allows for pixel sizes below 220 nm, ensuring precise diffraction of light which is a requirement for holography.

From a 2D hologram on a chip, Swave can fully reconstruct a 3D light wave representing an entire scene in all directions. The use of CMOS technology sets Swave apart, as it leverages economic advantages compared to other photonics and display technologies.

The technology has the potential to power holographic headsets for immersive 3D AR/VR/XR experiences, eliminating challenges associated with focal depth and eye tracking – the so-called ‘vergence- accommodation conflict’ (see HN September 2023).

Vtouch

A notable mention must also go to Korean firm Vtouch, which was awarded CES 2024 Innovation Awards for its WHSP RING™ and Holo Button™ products.

Holo Button utilises hologram and spatial touch technology to display holographic floating images in space. The users can interact with the hologram button with a simple air touch. With the uprising of Matter, an open-source connectivity standard built for smart home and

IoT devices, Holo Button looks set to emerge as an interface between humans and machines. Vtouch is collaborating with Kumwon Hi- Tech, a leading Korean refrigerator design company, to integrate Holo Button into a holographic refrigerator showcase.