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.
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]
Comments 17
If they could get the idea to work I would find this appealing, but for me, it is a case of seeing is believing.
so this would remove the need for tv's/monitor's for consoles?
could be interesting but i realy don't see this being a thing in the next 5 years. maybe some inovotation for the ps6 era.
60fps would be nice
@jdv95 You still need a monitor, just one that comes with the fancy holographic tech. It's essentially a 3D TV, but one that works without glasses and works for multiple people, the latter would be a first if they manage to do that.
Me having just bought a 4K TV this year
Awesome stuff. Still very early days but a gaming peripheral like this would be a hot ticket if it became affordable for the average consumer.
@ShogunRok Haven't You Heard Robert 4k is Old News Its All About That 8k Now
@Octane "It's essentially a 3D TV"
So, it's their 3D display from years back that was on sale for all of 6 months before being abandoned, but with a New 3DS screen. 😂
Between how well that sold and how the 3DS was followed up by the 2DS - which is about all you'll find on store shelves now if you look, New 2DS, no 3DS - I don't see how this ends well.
I'm all for holographics, who doesn't want to be in Minority Report, but this seems excessive and destined to fail.
No gimmicks, just games.
Holographic 3d is amazing. During the 4d theatre in Lego land Windsor there's a section where you follow a bird flying. It looked like it was in the image but it was so crystal clear and easily the best part of the show I took my glasses off to see what was going on. The image was beamed outside of the screen from a separate projector to the right making this display. If there's any tech like that next gen its a day one buy its so immersive it is right in front of you - literally.
Maybe late gen PS5 games. Sony is all about higher resolution displays right now.
3D was hella cool despite all the hate it got. It's still hella cool to play 3D Blurays in PSVR. Certainly not a game changer, but I still miss it.
Freesync 2 with 90+hz/fps > any sort of 3d though.
@rjejr The big difference is that 3D televisions were kinda stupid with the need to wear 3D glasses. I think that was a huge barrier for a lot of people. With the 3DS, many developers abandoned the feature because I can only imagine that it required extra computing power to render everything in 3D. And considering how handheld systems are kinda under powered to begin with, I can understand them choosing the extra graphic fidelity over a novelty feature.
However, if this holographic display works with 3D films as well, it has a better chance of becoming a thing. People seem to be fine with the PSVR graphics, and I can only imagine that this requires less rendering power.
@Octane "People seem to be fine with the PSVR graphics"
Except for all the people who feel nausea.
I could see the 4 new Avatar movies making people want 3D tvs in their homes if they are as good as the first movie, but I could also imagine a lot of people not liking it or not wanting to pay for it. My wife still won't let me buy a 4k TV b/c she doesn't like how they look. I think all the time 3D would be weird.
I think VR is different b/c you are "in" the world, moving your head to look around, which is different than a 3D tv, which no matter how good, to most people, is still just going to be "3D on TV without the glasses".
@rjejr ''Except for all the people who feel nausea.''
That's a completely different issue.
I'm all in for the next gen hype!
I really loved the psvr(even if I abandoned it) and i would gladly support any futuristic tech related with games or movies.
Let's wait and see also if Cameron creates a new trend like 3d image and how all these will end to something truly innovative..
Id love that! Ever since i played the holigraphic 3d game time traveler (i think it was called) in an arcade back when i was like 10 (im 37 now) ive been highly intrigued by actual 3d.
That game was actually ported to ps2 btw! I use to own it
@Octane Different, but I wouldn't say completely.
Probably the same people who dont' like VR b/c it makes them feel ill are the some of the same people who don't like 3D, b/c it's weird to look at. Also the same people who didn't like high frame rate 48 for The Hobbit. Some people just don't like things.
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