Inspired by Star Wars Hologram Phones Could Reshape Communication

It has perhaps the most iconic imagery in science fiction - from epic space battles to mystical super powers -- yet some of the most inspiring scenes from Star Wars have featured holograms.

The ability to beam the projection of an entire person (or alien) is an amazing form of communication.

For most it seemed like fantasy, but for some scientists and engineers the film has played a critical role in inspiring their own development of holographic technology.

How these revolutionary devices were inspired, and how they work, is illustrated in an infographic from WhichVoIP.

Communications have been vastly enhanced by Internet connectivity.

Video calls made possible by Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are now commonplace, but how might the 3D projection of someone on a phone or computer change the way we interact with them? What changes will Hologram over Internet Protocol bring to the way in which we watch entertainment or hold conversations?

The graphic explores the following technologies, which look to drastically alter how people interact in the digital space:

Beagle Holo
Partially inspired by the planning of the attack on the Death Star, the Holo takes an effect made popular by magicians to another level - projecting a 3D object that can be interacted with through hand gestures.

Leia Display Systems
Inspired by the famous fictional hologram message of their namesake, Leia Display Systems are working to create a hologram phone by 2015.

Project Leia
Also inspired by the Leia hologram, this team is working to create a true hologram display for mobile devices.

Acoustic Levitation
A visual look at some exciting research coming out of Japan that could help lead to the development of another classic science fiction technology - the holodeck.

While they may not yet allow you to communicate across the galaxy, these devices look set to bring an entirely new form of communication into everyday life.

See the full infographic to learn more about the engineering behind these holographic devices and how they'll soon allow generations of nerds to live out their childhood fantasies.

http://www.whichvoip.com/blog/star-wars-hologram-phones-to-reshape-communications.html