NTT Docomo's Display Gives Feeling of Touching 3D Image

by **maxgoh** Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:30 am

NTT Docomo Inc exhibited a 3D display that gives a feeling of touching a 3D image viewable with the naked eye at Ceatec Japan 2010.

A moving image of a chameleon was showed on the 3D display. When the tip of a pen came close to the chameleon, it extended its tongue to peck the pen tip. At the same time, a force was applied to the pen tip so that it was pushed away from the display and the user could feel as if the pen was actually pecked by the chameleon.

The repulsive force is realized by magnetic force that is generated by applying a current to a coil set on the back side of the display. And the force influences a magnet attached to the pen tip.

The exhibited display applied a current to the coil to generate magnetic force when the pen tip touched the tip of the chameleon's tongue shown on the 3D display. The location of the pen tip was tracked by a camera set near the display.

The 3D display is a 2.57-inch LCD display that uses lenticular lenses. The number of viewpoints is eight. And 3D images can be viewed from horizontal angles of up to ±20° from the center.

NTT Docomo has not yet determined when to commercialize the 3D display.

"We are developing the technology as one of several candidates for a communication technology that uses richer contents," it said. "But we are still in the phase of examining and researching the needs for and applications of the technology.

(info from http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp)