Tech Report
By: Nick Gambino
The Human Media Lab at Queen’s University built a flexible, holographic phone called HoloFlex, though we may not ever see it go to market.
This innovative new device features a flexible body that can bend in various ways. The bending isn’t just a cool gimmick that allows you to show people how strong you are as a novelty gag. No the bending acts as a sort of command with different apps.
In a demonstration of the HoloFlex’s capabilities you can see a 3D version of Angry Birds using the bending screen as a way to line up the bird for maximum damage. Another demo shows an object in the foreground being moved in the distance when the phone is bent. This open the doors for developers to figure out all kinds of neat ways to use this technology.
While this isn’t really a necessary feature for a smartphone it is kind of cool especially when combined with the holographic, 3D display of the HoloFlex.
Here’s how the screen works. Usually in a 3D display phone there are two images created, one for each eye so the viewer perceives the image in 3D. But with the Holoflex there are a bunch of tiny lenses on the display that disperse light in numerous directions creating a 3D image for anyone looking at the phone from any position.
Dr. Vertegaal of Human Media Lab offered one idea on where this type of technology might thrive, “By employing a depth camera, users can also perform holographic video conferences with one another. When bending the display users literally pop out of the screen and can even look around each other, with their faces rendered correctly from any angle to any onlooker.”
That’s a neat technology as it allows for a real 3D phone without the need for 3D glasses or head tracking. But there’s a catch. Isn’t there always a catch?
Though the display is 1080p, it doesn’t look like it. After the image has gone through the multitude of lenses, each one taking a bite out of the resolution, it comes out to about 160 x 104. In other words, it’s terrible and hardly holds a candle to an archaic flip phone.
That problem needs to be solved to minimally get it to 720p if anyone is going to even consider this a serious smartphone choice.
What do you think of the HoloFlex? Innovative new technology or unnecessary dud? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.
To learn more about NewsWatch on the Discovery Channel, check us out on Tumblr!
Its including you read my thoughts! You seem to know so much approximately this,
just like you wrote the ebook inside it or something that is.
I feel which you could do with some percent to pressure your message home a
bit, however aside from that, that is excellent blog. An incredible
read. I will definitely be back.
Hello there! This is my first comment here so I
just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading your posts.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics?
Thanks a ton!
constantly i employed to read smaller content which also clear their motive, and that is also happening using this post
which I am reading now.
Hello There. I stumbled upon your site using msn. This can be an extremely well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read much more of your useful information. I appreciate you
the post. I am going to definitely return.
I wish to many thanks for the efforts you’ve devote writing this blog.
I really hope to view exactly the same high-grade content of your stuff later on at the same time.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to
get my unique website now 😉
Excellent blog right here! Additionally your website lots up fast!
What hosting company have you been using? Can I become your affiliate link to your host?
I want my website loaded as quickly as yours lol
They are genuinely fantastic ideas in concerning blogging.
You may have touched some pleasant things here. Any manner continue wrinting.
I am just really loving the theme/design of your website.
Do you come across any internet browser compatibility problems?
A small number of my blog audience have complained
about my site not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great
in Safari. Do you have any solutions to assist fix this problem?
After I initially left a comment I have clicked the
-Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I have four emails with exactly the same comment.
Is there a method you are able to remove me from that service?
Thanks a lot!