Just like computer graphics, holograms are being applied as tools to solve individual research, engineering, and presentation problems within several domains. Up till today, however, these tools are applied separately. The overall goal of this project is to combine both technologies to create a powerful tool for science, industry and education. We investigate the possibility of integrating computer-generated graphics into holograms. Our goal is to combine the advantages of conventional holograms (i.e., extremely high visual quality and realism, support of all depth queues and of multiple observers at no computational cost, space efficiency, etc.) with the advantages of today's computer-graphics capabilities (i.e., interactivity, real-time rendering, simulation and animation, stereoscopic and autostereoscopic presentation, etc.). Several engineering and computer science topics will be addressed throughout the project: The potentials of different hologram types with respect to the project's goal have to be investigated. New three-dimensional displays that combine computer graphics and holography will be engineered. New real-time rendering algorithms, registration methods, and human-computer interaction techniques that are adequate for the proposed metaphor will be developed. The outcome will be a three-dimensional display concept whose application is envisioned in areas such as scientific visualization (e.g., paleontology, pathology, density, medicine, biomedicine, orthopedics or archeology), industrial simulation (e.g., design, manufacturing and quality assurance), and education (e.g., medical training or public museums). This project has been completed in December 2006. News:  HoloGraphics in IEEE Spectrum |more| | home | eMail | print |