"Realtime hologram" display from Hitachi

Hitachi has announced a camera system and display that can be used to shoot objects in real time and display them as a hologram-like 3D image that is visible from all sides. In Transpost, the company's prototype display, images of the object shot from 24 angles are processed and projected from the device's base onto a mirror in its ceiling, from whence they are reflected onto 24 mirrors that in turn bounce them onto a rotating screen. The resulting image is something like the "holographic communicators" that are a science-fiction film staple.

Possible uses the company envisages include beaming images of a presenter to an auditorium in a remote location, allowing a development team overseas to look at a 3D product mockup, or to see one's opponent in an online game.

Some photos are included at the bottom of Hitachi's Japanese press release, but whether by accident or design they're unfortunately too small to see what's going on in much detail.