Sony announces 360° 3D prototype display

If all the 3D video devices hitting the market this year haven’t been quite enough to satiate you, Sony’s latest innovation just might do the trick. Sony engineers have developed what could be the first 360 degree, holographic, high-definition display on its way to the consumer market.

Known as the RayModeler 3D, the prototype display uses an array of special LED lights to create a full color, life-like 3D image. The display is also autostereoscopic, meaning that no special glasses are required to view it.

The RayModeler 3D prototype is a cylinder that is 27cm high with a 13CM diameter. It can be connected to a PC via a built-in digital video input port and contains a graphics processor that can generate a 3D image in real-time. The unique LED light sources produce 360 separate images, in one degree separations, that combine to form a holographic image that is viewable from any angle.

Viewing 3D images unaided by special eyewear isn’t the only thing the RayModeler 3D is good for. A built-in gesture sensor allows users to actually interact with the image inside of the display. A video on the SonyStyle blog shows a demonstration that includes a person playing a 3D Tetris-style game that looks rather impressive.

If you happen to be attending the SIGGRAPH 2010 conference in Los Angeles next week, you’ll be able to check out the RayModeler 3D prototype firsthand. Otherwise, there is currently no information from Sony on when, or if, the display will ever reach the consumer market. There is also no word on what the cost might be to produce such a display.

I think that the best part of the RayModeler is the ability to view 3D imagery with the naked eye. Unfortunately, the cylindrical design is a step-back from the thin displays that we’re used to using today. It stands to reason that you would need a fairly large cylinder to create a true life-size image. Still, the technology is impressive enough that consumers may be willing to sacrifice space to have such a device in their home.