Screenless TV's Picture Floats In Thin Air

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[chance33_98]

Screenless TV's Picture Floats In Thin Air

POSTED: 9:06 a.m. EST November 20, 2003

BOSTON -- Imagine watching a TV picture that seems to magically appear in thin air.

It's not a sci-fi fantasy but emerging technology. MIT grad student Chad Dyner has developed a video projector that doesn't have a screen.

The picture simply floats in front of the viewer.

Investor Bob Ely won't say exactly how it works -- but a so-called secret sauce modifies air particles to accept and reflect the image. Ely admits the thin-air TV isn't broadcast quality yet. But he said they have a 42-inch prototype. He adds the military and companies that make trade show displays are interested in their technology.

[JRandomFreeper]

geekage ping

[Steely Tom]

Uhhh... PDA's cost money. Count me out.

(steely)

[freedumb2003]

If you could direct connect FR to your brain so you would be in constant contact with FR you would explode from arguing with yourself about the WOD, the Civil War, Creationism vs. Evolution, RINO's vs. Paleos and whether what you are thinking is OK with JimRob and/or the Admin Moderator at the moment.

[sweetliberty]

That's scary! LOL!

[sarasmom]

Woo hoo!
It is a Reversa screen applicaton.
I was involved in flying two 120" diagonals last week.
It aint majic.

[Steely Tom]

Because take any ol' random particle: you bounce light off it, you have no idea of knowing what reflection angle that light is gonna take. Though maybe that's part of the "modification"... Hmmm..

My reasoning is a lot less elegant than this. Based on first principles: you can't form an image in free space because free space is so linear. Any image-forming means has to involve some non-linearity distributed in space.

Particles are non-linear (with respect to ray angle). Ionization is non-linear (with respect to electric field).

Remember the "air spark" phenomenon seen when certain high-power lasers were discharged through a converging lens?

In any event, this technology is probably "smelly."

(steely)

[Socratic]

"Because take any ol' random particle: you bounce light off it, you have no idea of knowing what reflection angle that light is gonna take."

A river is composed of individual moving particles and the whole system is also flowing, but relected images can be clearly seen. This, I assume, is because of the distinct plane between two media with different refractive indices. If the "modification" can be made to create a distinct planar boundary between the affected and non-affected portions of the air, this should create the proper conditions to provide for a clear image.

[Socratic]

"Instead of the Borg Collective it would be the Freeper Collective."

I'm afraid I'd be driven insane by the thread Nazis, not to mention their kin; the spelling Nazis.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

While I'm all for Biomechanical Enhancements, there are limits. The interior of my skull is the only place that I can get away from the world and it's staying that way. No cyberjacks for this cyborg.

I'm just waiting for my thermal optic eyes and adrenaline overthruster. Those and an oxygen storage cell and I'll be set.

[World'sGoneInsane]

Imagine that!

[Mercat]

or gravy

[maxwell]

What is an image? The convergence of light rays, either real or virtual, according to the transmission functions of the projector optics. I don't understand what you mean by the nonlinearity requirement: that there must be a ray-distorting agent, or in the case of particle ionization, that there must be an ionizing agent?

[maxwell]

A river is composed of individual moving particles and the whole system is also flowing, but relected images can be clearly seen. This, I assume, is because of the distinct plane between two media with different refractive indices. If the "modification" can be made to create a distinct planar boundary between the affected and non-affected portions of the air, this should create the proper conditions to provide for a clear image.

Well everything is composed of individual particles, from mirrors to tree bark. Some surfaces are more specular than others though.

I am trying to think what would create distinct (more or less) planar boundaries... E, B, extra gases, extra radiation, heat...

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I made speakers out of a flame at one time.

[gitmo]

Where?

[free from tyranny]

This may be the beginning of the next big thing( aka computers, TV, Autos ). If this technology can be expanded to 3-D holography, the world will change. Perhaps I may be dreaming, but 3-D images such as the ones in The Governator's film "The Sixth Day" will release an avalanche of investment and opportunity. Commerce, entertainment and advertising are just broad examples of the areas of our lives that will be forever changed.

Imagine browsing the web through 3-D life like representations of desired "stuff". This could lead to the demise of all those coveted retail jobs. This could lead to the end of all those unsightly box stores.

Hell, just like in the film "The Sixth Day" this could end the need for spouses.

[Merdoug]

[longtermmemmory]

Hell, just like in the film "The Sixth Day" this could end the need for spouses.
** *** ****
Honest honey, she is just a hologram.

[longtermmemmory]

just as easily store them on your computer and print as needed.

[longtermmemmory]

Imagine a house with walls tuned into the scenery channel ala Back to the Future II.