Gizmodo: 3d technology

gCubik Display Puts Touch-Sensitive 3D Models In Your Palm

John Herrman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:03:18 EDT

The gCubik display cube, which simulates a fully rotatable, multi-viewable 3D object within its walls, has evolved quite a bit since we last saw it: its six sides, up from three, now respond to touch.

Like its predecessor, the newest gCubik is a strange device—more of proof-of-concept than anything else. It's purpose is to give the impression, via its six touchscreens, that it contains a 3D model. Cleverly, it does this while remaining a "naked-eye" tech, which means that the effect succeeds without glasses, from all angles, or even from multiple angles simultaneously. It pulls this off with a complex lens system, which reflects different images depending on the viewer's perspective, much like a simple hologram toy.

The lens arrays accounts for the low resolution, but the effect is still evident and very cool. And the newest model is much, much closer to the handheld design implement that its creators originally envisioned: all surfaces are now touch sensitive displays and accelerometers, meaning that the cube can be rotated in all directions, viewed from all angles and interacted with in a number of ways. Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, the agency behind the project, only had the somewhat gimped model (video below) to show, but say the device will soon be able to simulate objects that respond realistically to movement.

In other words, you will soon be able to buy a box that can convincingly simulate another, smaller box within itself. This, I think, is called "progress". [Tech-On]

Philips 3D Autostereoscopic TV Requires No Glasses, Is Gentle On The Eyes

Adrian Covert — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Philips unveiled their 56-inch 3D display yesterday that packs a Quad Full HD resolution (3840x2160). Wired says the autostereoscopic display requires no glasses and is able to support such a high resolution because of its high data throughput rates. Those high rates also allow for a 3D effect that is high contrast, silky smooth and has a viewing angle of 160 degrees. Early word is that these displays will cost upwards of $25000, and will mostly exist in the commercial space. [Wired]

LG Develops Phone with 3D and Tactile Feedba-OMFGVIRTUALPHONESEX!

Addy Dugdale — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:18:19 EDT

LG has announced that it is developing a cellphone with DMB that will enable people to feel the programme as well as seeing it. According to LG Electronics spokesman Song Keun-Young, the technology "adds the sense of touch to the traditional modes of sight and hearing."

Roughly speaking this means your phone will vibrate when the ball goes in the back of the net if you're watching a soccer match, or if the hero's car crashes during the movie you're engrossed in. Any bombs will set off light-emitting diodes which will blink in time to the explosions. The South Korean company plans to market new models (both hand-held devices as well as car terminals) which contain 3-D and sensing technology some time next year, after they have secured content.

Okay, so I lied about the phone sex. But you wish, eh? – Ad Dugdale

LG develops tactile broadcast phone [Physorg]