Toward Enhancement of the Airborne 3D Visualization Capabilities of the Holovizio System

Implementation of tangible virtuality means providing means for creating airborne visual images, rendering them with physical properties and making them sensible for the human senses. Airborne creation and direct manipulation requires separating the virtual objects from the image generating (physical rendering) device. One step in this direction is using electroholographic, or pseudo-electroholographic, devices which are able to create virtual objects in mid-air by various light interference techniques. A virtual object is a computer model, visualized by the projection system to appear as a real, tangible object. Te enable the required direct interaction with the virtual objects these have to be perceptually separated from the projected device, they have to be perceived as floating in the air. In our research we use the Holovizio Hv128WD system, a mono-parallax, high resolution holographic imaging device supporting 3D image visualization rather than physical rendering of virtual objects. The device generates 62 views of virtual objects where each view is visible from a specific viewing direction. The user of the system perceives this as a stereo view to the object. We have been collecting application experiences related to this device for more than one year, and we have found some restrictions and limitations in the image creating capabilities which we are trying to eliminate in our current research. This paper reports on the first phase of research which focuses on some major image generation problems and exploration of possible hardware, software or data management causes. The goal of this first phase is to develop and validate the proper measurement methods. A pilot experiment is performed to verify the applicability of the method. The results show that the proposed measurement methods are feasible and helpful in analyzing the observed problems. Some problems appear to have a more fundamental cause and may only be worked around.