4 ms·

A volumetric display using an acoustically trapped particle (2021) [video]

178 points by mmastrac 5y ago

jcims 5y ago
This is where imposter syndrome comes from. Holy moly.
- bussierem 5y ago
  I couldn't agree more. This person needs a corporate budget and total freedom behind them so they can turn this into something LEGITIMATELY revolutionary for computing.
  - nomel 5y ago
    Acoustic levitation dates back to 1866, with "3d shape" demos, like this, going back at least 20 years. This concept is used extensively in quantum computers, and for suspending and manipulate small things, but with lasers and radio waves rather than sound. You should try a VR headset, for a glimpse of the future of 3d displays. ;)
ttoinou 5y ago
A 3D Oscilloscope!
ttul 5y ago
I am blown away by what this skilled engineer can produce in his spare time.
hazeii 5y ago
There's a multi-particle version of this at the Brighton Fusebox (UK, [0]) for anyone who's got interesting ideas of how to use it. [0] https://www.thefuseboxbrighton.com/events/1414958717/acoustic-levitation--particle-based-display-demo-sessions?public= https://www.thefuseboxbrighton.com/events/1414958717/acousti...
- andybak 5y ago
  If anyone is interested in a demo or just playing with it then DM me.
carapace 5y ago
This reminds me of a volumetric display that consisted of a grid of vertical transparent fibers (fishing line, I think) and a projector. The projector illuminated the strands to form a 3D image. It worked pretty well. (I have no link though, sorry.)
vagabund 5y ago
Anyone know how well the mid-air haptic functionality performs with these displays? From an article published in IEEE last year [0]: > A problem with mid-air ultrasound haptics is the weak displayed stimulation. As a solution to this, stimulation techniques as lateral modulation [21] and spatiotemporal modulation [22] have been proposed that increase the perceived intensity. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that not only vibratory sensations but also thermal sensations could be displayed. For example, in [23], a cold feeling is given remotely through the transport of cold air by the acoustic flow associated with a Bessel beam. In [24], a method for providing heat using the thermoacoustic phenomenon of ultrasonic waves passing through a narrow slit was demonstrated. A contactless box that can faithfully simulate a wide array of tactile sensations sounds amazing. [0] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9392322 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9392322
- iaw 5y ago
  Not an expert but did work on haptic feedback in undergrad ~10 years ago. Unless there's been a breakthrough there are still a number of unsolved problems in the field making it difficult to develop the fidelity one would want for such a system.
- guillermin 5y ago
  A startup called Emerge is actually manufacturing a haptic feedback device for use in the metaverse based on this same technology [0]. [0] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emergehome/emerge-home-a-social-vr-experience-you-can-feel https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emergehome/emerge-home-...
nomel 5y ago
This is amazing. The distortion looks like it's from the momentum in the ball. A control system that takes this into account is probably needed.
jerpint 5y ago
Absolute wild!
Maursault 5y ago
Agreed, very cool. Makes me think this could someday be done with light in a vacuum or atmosphere with disembodied force instead of styrofoam, combined with a 360° treadmill and video holograms, leading to the development of the first Holodeck.
Geee 5y ago
Here is similar technique used, but with lasers: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-01125-y https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-01125-y
- nomel 5y ago
  Unfortunately, all of the implementations seem to be very audible, and stinky!
kaetemi 5y ago
Nice. A 3D vector display. I wonder if there are any use cases that could benefit from this type of display.

178 points by mmastrac 5y ago

jcims 5y ago

This is where imposter syndrome comes from. Holy moly.

bussierem 5y ago
I couldn't agree more. This person needs a corporate budget and total freedom behind them so they can turn this into something LEGITIMATELY revolutionary for computing.
- nomel 5y ago
  Acoustic levitation dates back to 1866, with "3d shape" demos, like this, going back at least 20 years. This concept is used extensively in quantum computers, and for suspending and manipulate small things, but with lasers and radio waves rather than sound. You should try a VR headset, for a glimpse of the future of 3d displays. ;)

ttoinou 5y ago

A 3D Oscilloscope!

ttul 5y ago

I am blown away by what this skilled engineer can produce in his spare time.

hazeii 5y ago

There's a multi-particle version of this at the Brighton Fusebox (UK, [0]) for anyone who's got interesting ideas of how to use it. [0] https://www.thefuseboxbrighton.com/events/1414958717/acoustic-levitation--particle-based-display-demo-sessions?public= https://www.thefuseboxbrighton.com/events/1414958717/acousti...

andybak 5y ago
If anyone is interested in a demo or just playing with it then DM me.

carapace 5y ago

This reminds me of a volumetric display that consisted of a grid of vertical transparent fibers (fishing line, I think) and a projector. The projector illuminated the strands to form a 3D image. It worked pretty well. (I have no link though, sorry.)

vagabund 5y ago

Anyone know how well the mid-air haptic functionality performs with these displays? From an article published in IEEE last year [0]: > A problem with mid-air ultrasound haptics is the weak displayed stimulation. As a solution to this, stimulation techniques as lateral modulation [21] and spatiotemporal modulation [22] have been proposed that increase the perceived intensity. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that not only vibratory sensations but also thermal sensations could be displayed. For example, in [23], a cold feeling is given remotely through the transport of cold air by the acoustic flow associated with a Bessel beam. In [24], a method for providing heat using the thermoacoustic phenomenon of ultrasonic waves passing through a narrow slit was demonstrated. A contactless box that can faithfully simulate a wide array of tactile sensations sounds amazing. [0] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9392322 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9392322

iaw 5y ago
Not an expert but did work on haptic feedback in undergrad ~10 years ago. Unless there's been a breakthrough there are still a number of unsolved problems in the field making it difficult to develop the fidelity one would want for such a system.
guillermin 5y ago
A startup called Emerge is actually manufacturing a haptic feedback device for use in the metaverse based on this same technology [0]. [0] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emergehome/emerge-home-a-social-vr-experience-you-can-feel https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emergehome/emerge-home-...

nomel 5y ago

This is amazing. The distortion looks like it's from the momentum in the ball. A control system that takes this into account is probably needed.

jerpint 5y ago

Absolute wild!

Maursault 5y ago

Agreed, very cool. Makes me think this could someday be done with light in a vacuum or atmosphere with disembodied force instead of styrofoam, combined with a 360° treadmill and video holograms, leading to the development of the first Holodeck.

Geee 5y ago

Here is similar technique used, but with lasers: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-01125-y https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-01125-y

nomel 5y ago
Unfortunately, all of the implementations seem to be very audible, and stinky!

kaetemi 5y ago

Nice. A 3D vector display. I wonder if there are any use cases that could benefit from this type of display.