This phenomenon is termed as volumetric display. A volumetric display device is a graphic display device that forms a visual representation of an object in three physical dimensions, as opposed to the planar image of traditional screens that simulate depth through a number of different visual effects. One definition offered by pioneers in the field is that volumetric displays create 3-D imagery via the emission, scattering, or relaying of illumination from well-defined regions in (x,y,z) space. Though there is no consensus among researchers in the field, it may be reasonable to admit holographic and highly multi view displays to the volumetric display family if they do a reasonable job of projecting a three-dimensional light field within a volume.
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. The demonstration system uses an infra-red laser that creates a hundred flashpoints per second. Currently, these can be projected between two and three meters from the apparatus, in a space of about a cubic meter. Each flashpoint generates a popping sound, resulting in a constant crackling when the display is in operation.
The images are constructed by firing a 1kHz infrared pulse laser into a 3D scanner, which reflects and focuses the pulses of the laser to specific points in the air. The molecules at that point are ionized, and the energy is released as photons. Aerial Burton believes that using this technology in emergencies will aid communication after a disaster, letting people know where to evacuate, or obtain food and emergency supplies. The biggest difference between this technology and other displays is, this is a screenless display. This is the only device that can show text and pictures in mid-air, without using a screen. Yep, this is 3D that uses the air around us as its display panel. They, literally, shoot lasers into the air that, somehow, turn into discernible objects that move and animate and look awesome. For now, it appears to be limited to displaying dots of light that can be used to form 3D outlines. But it’s really floating. Like an inexplicable apparition. It’s a miracle!
