So if I didn't like the ads, I could get my own rig and blast a bunch of interference pics like this right on top of it. Sounds fun!
Posted on 02/28/2006 5:12:50 PM PST by LibWhacker
The night sky could soon be lit up with gigantic three-dimensional adverts, thanks to a Japanese laser display that creates glowing images in thin air.
The system is being developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Tokyo, in collaboration with Burton Inc and Keio University.
“We believe this technology may eventually be used in applications ranging from pyrotechnics to outdoor advertising,” says a spokesman for AIST. According to Burton Inc, the technology might also be used for emergency distress signals or even temporary road signs.
The display utilises an ionisation effect which occurs when a beam of laser light is focused to a point in air. The laser beam itself is invisible to the human eye but, if the intensity of the laser pulse exceeds a threshold, the air breaks down into glowing plasma that emits visible light.
The required intensity can only be achieved by very short, powerful laser pulses – each plasma dot, or "flashpoint", lasts for only about a nanosecond. But the resulting image appears to last longer due to persistence of vision. As with film and television, the impression of a continuous image is maintained by refreshing the flashpoints.
Zap, crackle and pop
The demonstration system uses an infra-red laser that creates a hundred flashpoints per second. Currently, these can be projected between two and three metres from the apparatus, in a space of about a cubic metre. Each flashpoint generates a popping sound, resulting in a constant crackling when the display is in operation.
Previous systems used galvanometric mirrors to control the focal point of the beam in two dimensions, to create only 2D images. But the new system adds a high-speed linear motor moving a lens to also control the focal point of the laser in a third dimension, allowing solid shapes to be sketched out.
The researchers behind the demonstration system plan to upgrade it to a higher pulsing rate, which should produce more dots and so smoother images. Future versions should also include moving pictures and AIST claims it should be possible to scale the system up to produce displays of any size. However, only white flashpoints can be created so a colour display will not be possible.
(But I wouldn't mind seeing giant cartoons involving old Mo' projected on the sky all over the Middle East.)
Well at first blush I would be against this but now that you mention the possible uses for it to broadcast giant cartoons all over the ME, it does sound promising.
We need a way to generate a soundtrack.
"Dirka dirka jihad dirka dirka!"
It could be a 5 minute short subject: Mohammed and his sheep.
ping
Wouldn't it be a hoot if we flashed a hugh picture of Mohamad telling Middle-Easterners to knock off the violence and get along with the U.S. and Israel. LOL
The west should have kept this a secret.
So if I didn't like the ads, I could get my own rig and blast a bunch of interference pics like this right on top of it. Sounds fun!
I've thought of this before. I am suprised its taken so long for advertisers to destroy our night sky. I was thinking more of a spaced-based system that would adverise to the whole damn planet.
Eric, I nominate you for the Director of our 1st ME sky 3D laser project! I think you are to an idea for one of the greatest epics in film making of all time.
You can broadcast that picture in 3D? By God you will be richer then Gates!
Hubba hubba.
Oh boy, I can hardly wait, giant tampon/pads floating in the night sky.
Will be banned as a danger to aviation.
A possible solution to the bird flu problem?
Didn't Hitchcock have a documentary about that?
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