If you’re a fan of CNN or ‘Star Wars,’ you’ve probably been acquainted with the phenomenon that is the hologram.

Although Jessica Yellin and Princess Leia holograms were pretty nifty, they will look prehistoric in just a few years. Thanks to researchers at the University of Tokyo, it is now possible to feel and manipulate holographic images.

A team led by Dr. Hiroyuki Shinoda combined classic hologram technology with the dynamic abilities of ultrasound to make this discovery. Shinoda and his team used the holographic portrayal technique of shining an LCD projector into a concave mirror to generate the desired hologram. Nothing special so far, just your typical holographic practices.

However, they didn’t stop there. The team went the extra mile and developed a system using Nintendo Wii remotes and ultrasound technology. By strategically placing a Wii remote on each side of the desired tactile hologram, a human hand or other real-life object can be registered. Keeping the registered object targeted, the system administers low-energy ultrasound that acts as the resistance. Although you might think you’re actually touching that holographic ball, what you’re really feeling is a manufactured, targeted pressure field mimicking the shape of the hologram.

The registered object, most likely your hand, is tracked by the Wii remote system so that when your hand ‘touches’ the ball, the ball moves. The holographic images used by the development team at technology conventions across the world allow users to ‘feel’ raindrops. The Wii sensors, locking in on your hand, work in tandem with the unit that portrays the images and administers the pressure field. As each droplet appears to touch your skin, it changes from a mere image to a bodily structure.

In a more simplified scenario, it can be compared to the purpose and usage of pressurized air. You can feel the resistance of the air against your skin, but there’s nothing there besides manipulated natural forces.

It’s a little rudimentary at the moment, but major developments are expected over the next few years. The University of Tokyo is looking into developing different ‘textures’ made by the pressurized airfields, including skin and water.

Had this technology been available in 1977, Luke Skywalker could have given holographic Princess Leia a hug when she virtually delivered a message to him and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Had it been available in 2008, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer probably would have been a whole lot happier with Yellin’s appearance. Maybe.

Don’t get ahead of yourselves, though. The corporeal nature of this new hologram technology is nothing more than an illusion. Although the images may seem to be tangible, they are still just beams of light and nothing more. Sorry, Skywalker, you’ll have to high-five C-3P0 another time.

Sick of seeing holographic images in the middle of the CNN news floor? All you have to do is break into CNN studios and tackle the image, and Wolf will get the hint. Just kidding, don’t do that. It’s still just an image and not physical matter, and you’ll just end up on the floor.

Of course, this development comes with limitations. Ultrasound administered at a level high enough to provide any real resistance will rupture human eardrums. Yet, if you enjoy the use of your ears, the resistance offered by the holographic images will remain limited.

So what does that leave us with? For now, just the possibility of a really cool virtual game of ping-pong.

As this technology is further explored, it may be developed into a more complex and malleable science. Once all this eardrum nonsense is resolved, a full-power living room soccer game could become common, and the gap separating people by thousands of miles would seemingly be shut.

But until that time comes, really, don’t tackle any holograms on CNN. Seriously.

Jessica Smith is a sophomore information management and technologies and television, radio and film major. Her column appears every Thursday, and while she isn’t available by hologram yet, she’s still reachable at jlsmit22@syr.edu.

Published on April 21, 2010 at 12:00 pm