Holograms: Will Apple Do It Right

Much of the technology we use everyday seems like it was from a science fiction movie a few years ago. Think about it, tablets, smartphones, e-readers, all of these technologies changed the way we operate on a daily basis. So what is next step in the realm of technology? Ben Kunz, a writer for Bloomberg Businessweek, anticipates that holograms are on their way.

Apple and holograms

Kunz believes that our Apple devices will soon display interactive holograms, similar to what Robert Downey Jr.’s character was able to utilize in the movie The Avengers. This prediction is not based solely on the conjecture of one man. It is based upon some recent Apple patents and acquisitions. As well as the intense competition in the tablet industry ought not to be over looked. Apple is going to need to take a daring step soon to stay ahead of its competitors. Will that step be holograms?

Apple’s plans

Apple’s hologram idea may include coordinating a forward-facing camera and sensor that track the location of viewers’ eyes with a screen that can create beams of light at various angles. With this technology, each viewer’s eyes would be given a different angle of the image. This would create realistic-looking holograms.

The future of 3D?

What’s the biggest issue with 3D holograms? 3D technology has so far failed to grab the imagination of consumers. Kunz writes that the sale of 3D TV sets have been sluggish. Even games like Nintendo’s 3DS handheld system, which don’t require players to put on 3D glasses, have seen lukewarm sales. So why would Apple invest heavily in the technology to create holograms? Apple appears to have a history of taking failed ideas and making them become successful. This goes all the way back to the times when Apple took the idea for the mouse from Xerox, made it more effective, and saw sales soar. Apple also debuted its iPhone and iPad devices long after Microsoft first attempted to introduce a pen-based tablet PC that never quite caught on. Also, Apple’s 3D holograms will be different. They’ll be considerably more realistic, and they won’t need users to wear 3D glasses to view them. So what’s the message here? Get prepared for holograms. Once Apple’s programmers get to work on a technology, they almost never misfire.