Sony is developing a 3D holographic display that is compatible with the PlayStation game console offering an exciting gaming experience to 3D multiplayer games. The most important feature is they can enjoy 3D games without 3D glasses. It has been granted a patent for a holographic invention.
Play console games on a 3D hologram display
Sony Interactive Entertainment had applied for a ‘holographic display screen’ patent at the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office). The patent which was published on September 3, 2019, describes the technical operation of a display that can show holographic content, especially video games.
Those using Sony’s holographic screen do not need to wear 3D glasses which is undoubtedly one of the biggest advantages. After all, those glasses provide less comfort and freedom of movement during gaming. Moreover, you have to buy them separately and they are quite expensive.
Sony uses a light emitter and a large number of micromirrors to generate holographic images, capable to move/tilt at lightning speed, which is good for light reflection. The images have a 3D experience as left and right eyes both have a different image due to the modulation of emission of light.
In addition to detailed eye tracking, facial recognition is also discussed enabling to determine if one or more people are looking at the holographic display. In addition, cameras and a light sensor are used to calculate the distance from the gamer to the screen. The screen can even recognize gestures, including blinking your eyes, winking or nodding the head.
The sensors can be placed anywhere around the display, for example in the upper screen edge, but it is also possible that all sensors are placed under the screen. In this way, a completely bezel-less display can be created, according to the patent description.
Thanks to the micro mirrors the image is continuously adjusted enabling Gamers to move their heads while playing a 3D game. It is also possible to use the screen for a 2D display. Sony is exploring more opportunities to fetch one user look at a 3D image, while the second user is presented with a 2D image. There is also talk about displaying a virtual reality game via the three-dimensional holographic screen.
The holographic screen will be compatible with a Sony PlayStation console. This makes it possible to experience PlayStation games as a 3D hologram and to play via your trusted DualShock controller. Microsoft (Xbox) and Nintendo (Switch) consoles are also mentioned. Moreover, the 3D screen must be compatible with smartphones, virtual reality (VR) headsets and augmented reality (AR) headsets.
However, it’s not known whether Sony really intends to market such a holographic screen. We can well assume that such a product will become too expensive to have in the living room. It would be a good idea to add a game hall, where you can play a hologram game with multiple gamers. The patent also describes the possibility of modularly connecting the screens to each other, ideal during a large game event.
The Japanese manufacturer has many years of experience with hologram technology. It had shown a 360 ° holographic display prototype at the Digital Content Expo 2009 in Tokyo 10-years ago. This device is demonstrated in the corporate video below. The company said this technology is also useful for education and medical science in addition to gaming.
Sony is not the only manufacturer that sees a future in 3D multiplayer games, without having to wear glasses. In March 2018 the Australian company Voxon Photonics showed the world’s first 3D Volumetric Display in 4K resolution.
