3D holographs

Holographic image

technology news

3d Holograms for clubland

technology, news, february 2007, COMMENTS

Media communication took an innovative new step in the entertainment world this month when Luminar Leisure plc piloted a revolutionary 3D rear projection concept. Their aim is to bring ‘virtual’ live performance into their large UK dance venue estate.

Luminar Leisure’s CEO, Steve Thomas had been investigating the idea with Eminence Leisure CEO Martin King, sole suppliers of acts to the company, for the past 18 months.

Into the equation came the Connecta Group, whose subsidiary Tactectic Ltd had acquired a five-year exclusive licence for Wonderworks Media Ltd’s radical Eyeliner Foil System technology for live entertainment venues in the UK, Channel Islands and Eire.

The Eyeliner Foil System provides the virtual 3D imaging which can be choreographed to incorporate, and integrate with, live performance. Using a combination of traditional techniques with modern projection equipment and patented technologies a stunning virtual 3D moving image can be created.
The media has been provided by TouchVision, while Bedford-based Paradigm Audio Visual have handled screen engineering to optimise the resultant holographic images on to 6m wide angled screens.

The system uses a method of reflecting a projected digital image onto a seemingly invisible screen made of 0.125mm thick transparent foil - overcoming the drop-shadow or refraction ghosting experienced with other surfaces, and resulting in a crisper, sharper and totally realistic representation of an object or person.

“Nightclubs are constantly looking for something new,” reasons Tactectic’s Howard Burbidge. “If we go into around 50 Luminar venues, we can be talking to upward of 100,000 people per night, and be able to promote brands in an interesting way simultaneously across the estate.” This will not be conventional advertising but more of a product endorsement by ‘Abe’, Luminar’s animated virtual ‘host’ DJ. The character was commissioned by Connecta’s Derrick Tuke-Hastings, and the system was launched for a two week trial period at Liquid in Stevenage prior to Christmas, with a view to an eventual roll-out. The show demonstrated how a VJ could seamlessly integrated the Wonderworks technology into a show, via the specially created “enAbelink” Bluetooth/infrared download terminals, and incorporate advertising content (including offers from Vodka Kick, Motorola, Lucky Brand Jeans and Nintendo Wii). It also demonstrated the ease with which this could be delivered by TouchVision’s Platinum Extreme media server once ‘Abe’ took over the hosting role.

From: February 2007 Issue

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