A domestic research team has succeeded in developing a technology that allows holographic images, previously only seen in science fiction movies, to be seen with the naked eye and express their location in space. In the future, pressing a button on a holographic image that appears before your eyes will have the same effect as touching it, but without contact.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced that the 'Spatial Real Hologram Button-based Contactless Touch Technology' jointly researched and developed with Vtouch Co., Ltd., J Lab Co., Ltd., and JB Lab Co., Ltd., was selected for the '2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Award' to be held in Las Vegas, USA early next year.

This year's CES Innovation Awards were recognized for technological innovation in three categories: Smart City, Smart Home, and Computer Peripherals and Accessories.

The research team plans to verify the feasibility through future experiments.

This technology is expected to be widely used in security devices such as kiosks, vehicle displays, elevator buttons, road traffic signs, and door locks.

The hologram that the research team succeeded in developing this time can provide a spatial hologram image of a desired size within a certain area.

He also explained that a process was developed through computer calculations to enable the creation of holographic images at any distance desired by the user.

To create an actual holographic film, the researchers deposited nanopatterns onto a glass plate to create a hologram.

Normally, the glass plate is transparent, but when light is shone on it, an image becomes visible, and the researchers showed this image in the form of an arrow.

Of course, the size of the arrow can be adjusted, as well as the distance at which it protrudes towards the front of the screen.

The distance at which a holographic image is visible can be as far as several tens of centimeters.

The hologram that the actual research team created as a prototype is configured within a 5cm x 5cm panel inside a mock-up structure that contains a light source.

The distance from the front of the panel is approximately If you place it about 4 cm away, the sensor will recognize it and a 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm arrow hologram image will appear.

The research team used a red (R) light source to input an arrow, making it appear as if the arrow was sticking out straight ahead.

When I touched the arrow floating in space, a beep sounded as if I was pressing a button, and the door opened.

It was created with the concept of an on/off switch.

ETRI researchers proposed a technological convergence between hologram technology and non-contact motion sensor technology, and ETRI conducted a CGH-based optical simulation and production process for hologram images, while Vtouch focused on the development of motion sensor technology, non-contact touch technology, and convergence with hologram technology.

J Lab Co., Ltd. is contributing to the manufacturing process, and JB Lab Co., Ltd. is contributing to the development of adhesive materials.

Dr. Jooyeon Kim of ETRI’s Realistic Display Lab said, “In the post-COVID-19 era, this is an appropriate technology that can reduce concerns about the spread of viruses and reduce infections through contact in public places. This is the world’s first demonstration case of spatial hologram technology being applied to real life.”

ETRI announced that it plans to conduct a verification test of this technology at Nowon-gu Office in Seoul.

This technology was carried out as part of the 'New Market Creation Display Technology Development and Demonstration Project' with the support of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Evaluation and Planning, and it is planned to be demonstrated through the 'Non-contact Touch Space Real Hologram Button Technology Development' for five years starting this year.