Sony Patent 3D Holographic Display 1
Image: LetsGoDigital

Companies file patents all the time, but sometimes one comes along that's particularly interesting. Sony is, of course, not just PlayStation; it's a tech company with vast experience in cameras, sound systems, and much more besides. It's been toying around with holographic displays the last few years, attempting to create a device that could show fully 3D images from any angle without the need for special glasses. It seems the company has made some progress, as it's recently patented such a device.

This 3D holographic display apparently works by bouncing light around hundreds of micro-mirrors that can spin extremely quickly, aiming a separate image to the left and right eyes of the viewer at the correct angle. Face detection will allow the display to know how many people are watching, too, and it'll even be able to tell how far you are from the display. The result is a display that can send fully 3D images to multiple users from any angle. It sounds pretty space age.

Sony Patent 3D Holographic Display 2
Image: LetsGoDigital

What's interesting is that the applicant is Sony Interactive Entertainment, and the description of the product lists playing video games as one of its key uses. If this display made it to market, it seems it would be possible to play fully three-dimensional games without glasses or a virtual reality headset. Not only does Sony mention compatibility with PlayStation machines (PS5, anyone?) -- it also suggests potential use with consoles from Nintendo or Microsoft.

Again, this is just a patent, but it paints a pretty interesting picture nonetheless. Would you be interested in playing games in full 3D via this holographic display? Get futuristic in the comments below.

[source nl.letsgodigital.org, via nl.letsgodigital.org]