MIT Using Kinect to Bring Star Wars Holograms to Life

[Tom Goldman]

MIT Using Kinect to Bring Star Wars Holograms to Life


MIT has a project in the works that is able to generate holographic video in real-time through Kinect.

One of the turning points for humanity will be when we can successfully replicate the hologram of Princess Leia from Kinect [http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Original-Trilogy-Episodes/dp/B000PMLFRA] to help the project along.

Michael Bove's Object-Based Media Group from MIT recently presented an in-development holographic display system at the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers' Practical Holography conference. I know, I missed it too. The system is similar to that created by the University of Arizona [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105020-Help-Me-Obi-Wan-Kenobi-Moving-Holographic-Images-Now-a-Reality], but only uses 1 source of input instead of Arizona's 16. That source? Microsoft's Kinect.

The system works by capturing visual data through a Kinect camera attached to a PC, which sends it through the internet to a holographic display. It currently operates at 15 frames-per-second, up from 7 thanks to a recent boost. This is the highest frame rate yet for holographic streaming video, but MIT says it's confident it can get the frame rate to 24 FPS, or even 30 FPS which would replicate that of television.

Bove says that the system is unique because the OBMG is limiting itself to off-the-shelf hardware. The group wants to create a holo-video solution that is as cheap as possible. Right now, that solution includes a Kinect, laptop, and receiving PC that uses three graphics processing units in tandem to compute the "diffraction patterns" to create the final holographic product. That product is shown on a holographic display that MIT designed itself, but Bove's group is working on a cheaper version.

The video here might not look like much, but it's an incredible indication of what's to come within the next few years. Presumably, we'll soon be using holograms not to ask for help to save the universe, but to remind our significant others to pick up milk on the way home, amongst other menial tasks.

Source: Fast Company [http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/video-holography-0124.html]

Permalink

 

[DanDeFool]

I've revised my opinion on Kinect.

Not retracted, mind you. I still don't think Kinect is going to be any good for video games.

Rather, I now believe that Kinect is a fascinating piece of hardware with many useful applications. It may not be a revolution in gaming technology, but it may well be a revolutionary human interface device.

 

[Wolfram23]

I've revised my opinion on Kinect.

Not retracted, mind you. I still don't think Kinect is going to be any good for video games.

Rather, I now believe that Kinect is a fascinating piece of hardware with many useful applications. It may not be a revolution in gaming technology, but it may well be a revolutionary human interface device.

This

Plus, that hologram looks like stink lol. Virtal Boy? But at least it's a start.

 

[FlashHero]

One has to wonder why did Microsoft think only for games with this thing in the first place?

Which it doesn't do very well at all anyway lol*.


*For the games i play.

 

[HentMas]

I loved the "princess Leia"

hehe

anyway, i really really want to see this work in my home, and with games in it would be awesome

huh??

 

[IamSofaKingRaw]

Kinect is good for everything except gaming.

 

[Polock]

Seriously is really cool to see what people are doing with this "gaming" piece of technology. Casual games? Sure. Holograms? YES!

 

[Daemascus]

Nice step in the right direction. I hope it looks better in real life than that video though.

 

[Beryl77]

How come Microsoft invented such a great piece of technology and didn't realize what potential it has? In the last few months I've read about so many great ways to use and they "just" sell it for gaming.
None the less this is one of the most awesome ways to use Kinect, that I've read until now.

I loved the "princess Leia"

hehe

anyway, i really really want to see this work in my home, and with games in it would be awesome

huh??

Spoiler

You should check this video out

Spoiler

 

[captaincabbage]

Looks pretty cool to me.
It's good to see that technology like this is being used for more than the trivial pastime of gaming.

 

[Traun]

I love the guys in MIT. Seriously, every time you see MIT in the headlines you know it will be awesome.

That said, he probably used a crowbar to make it.

 

[CrystalShadow]

One has to wonder why did Microsoft think only for games with this thing in the first place?

Which it doesn't do very well at all anyway lol*.


*For the games i play.

How come Microsoft invented such a great piece of technology and didn't realize what potential it has? In the last few months I've read about so many great ways to use and they "just" sell it for gaming.
None the less this is one of the most awesome ways to use Kinect, that I've read until now.

Oh come on guys. Microsoft didn't particularly invent anything. They bought a pre-existing 3d camera system from a Israeli company (which originally created them to do realtime 'bluescreen' work without actually having a bluescreen, such as outdoors)

What Microsoft did is take that technology, and, mostly by virtue of mass production, make it a lot cheaper.

This gets used in all these hacks because it's cheap for what it does.

And as far as I recall, Microsoft did have plans for the technology that extended beyond gaming, but gaming was their first target.

 

[Onionman]

Kinect may not be a revolution to gaming, but it is good tool for a variety of technology. Only if Microsoft realized this before they started selling this lol. At least now they have kinect PC drivers coming soon.

If only sony and nintendo knew how to implement this technology to the masses, they would be making killer profit.

Just like 5 years ago if only microsoft and sony knew how to implement motion control to the masses (anyone else feel deja vu?).

 

[Ossian]

Please change the title, I was totally pissed because I thought they finally released footage of the Live action series.

Thanks for ruining my day. ::Mumbles something about ewoks::

 

[kannibus]

Hmm, an interesting concept. True holography. Sure it looks sorta craptacular right now, but hey the first TVs sucked ass too.

Right, gonna be the one to say it.

"Help me MIT you're my only hope."

Oooh, I WENT THERE.

 

[PeePantz]

I loved the "princess Leia"

hehe

I really wished they showed her unenthusiastic dead-pan version of "Help me Obi-Won Kenobi. You're my only hope."

 

[valhala89]

Please change the title, I was totally pissed because I thought they finally released footage of the Live action series.

Thanks for ruining my day. ::Mumbles something about ewoks::

if the way the clone wars 2008 animated series is shaping up is anything to go by, i suspect that the live action should be promising.. they've toned down the goofieness.. i mean jarjar hasnt appeared in 2 seasons and the droids are less brain damaged.. and the closest thing to a ewok was a wampa

 

[RatRace123]

I've revised my opinion on Kinect.

Not retracted, mind you. I still don't think Kinect is going to be any good for video games.

Rather, I now believe that Kinect is a fascinating piece of hardware with many useful applications. It may not be a revolution in gaming technology, but it may well be a revolutionary human interface device.

Ah Kinect, the most advanced piece of gaming tech that has absolutely no place in games, eh?

 

[AetherWolf]

[youtube]DpmsT0nHk-g[/youtube]
The only reason the Japanese buy Kinect is to fool around with Vocaloids...

[youtube]eCbURRDUUdI[/youtube]
...And to roleplay Godzilla.

Anyway, I love seeing the new stuff people do with Kinect.