FlexiVol Turns 3D Holograms Into Something You Can Reach Out and Touch
- Researchers at Universidad Pública de Navarra developed FlexiVol, a volumetric display that uses elastic diffusers for direct hand interaction with true 3D graphics.
- In user studies, participants completed 3D tasks faster and with lower mental load using FlexiVol than traditional 3D mouse input.
FlexiVol introduces a swept volumetric display system that incorporates elastic diffuser strips instead of rigid surfaces. This modification lets users physically insert their hands into the display volume to interact with spatially rendered 3D graphics, without wearing headsets or gloves.
The Universidad Pública de Navarra team tested different stretchy materials to find ones that looked good, moved well, and held their shape over time. They also developed a way to fix visual distortions caused by the moving screen layers. Based on their findings, they created a set of simple hand gestures—like pinching, pushing, and rotating—that people can use to interact with the floating 3D images directly.
A controlled study with 18 participants compared FlexiVol's direct interaction method against a standard 3D mouse. Results indicated that direct reach-through input reduced completion time and mental workload, with users overwhelmingly preferring the tactile interaction. Example applications included virtual pets and 3D landscape editing, highlighting scenarios where intuitive 3D engagement is beneficial.
🌀 Tom's Take:
For immersive media to be truly immersive, we need to be able to bring more of our senses into the mix, including touch. This incredible research shows how one day we may be able to interact with holograms in a similar way to physical items in the real world.
Source: HAL Open Science
