Winner of an Innovations Award at the 2022 South by SouthWest (SXSW) Conference and Festival, in the category of Connecting People, Proto Inc., (former PORTL) markets life-size and desktop holotransportation devices for real-time, and/or prerecorded communication. Devices where people can project themselves live to communicate in remote locations. Holographic projections that do not require viewer headgear technology to visualize the hologram. Headgear technology that has previously driven the possibilities of “beaming” people to remote locations for live interactions.
Indeed, Proto Inc., even works using just a cell phone, and a white background, to project individuals remotely. On the receiving end, the holographic projection then appears in 3D, behind the transparent 2D surface, of a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, of one of two holotransportation devices: a life-size 7-foot booth called the Proto Epic, or a 26-inch desktop box called the Proto M, with two separate price structures (for individuals and businesses).
Welcome Sci-Fi no more (a former SXSW Innovations Award category). “If you can’t be there, beam there”, according to Proto Inc., founder David Nussbaum.
The video below gives you a glimpse of some the small, 26”, Proto Model M holotransportation applications. Post-pandemic, this technology is marketed as an antidote to 'Zoom fatigue'. During the pandemic, holoptransportation of medical doctors for diagnosing cases of COVID 19 infections was also well tested, as a safe, and contact-free alternative to consultation in the same room as the patient. Ultimately, multiple applications of the Proto Inc., holotransportation technology are envisioned. CEOs could beam into meetings, tradeshows and events. A stand-up comic could participate in a venue. Runway models could participate in fashion shows. Teachers could beam into classrooms. Or, grandparents could beam into their children's home, to communicate with distant grandchildren.
Proto Inc., holotransportation technology is patented. For example, the United Nations, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent, WO2021113719A1, titled Holographic display device and method of use, discloses both product and process. In particular, the patent discloses improvements to the well-developed prior art of holotransportation, comprising the projection of a hologram-like image onto the transparent monitor of a three-dimensional, interior lit, display box. The interior lit display box further comprises 30,000 lumens of LED light panneling, covering three sides of the holotransportation booth or box, for the purposes of providing unparalleled depth, dimension, and realistic 3D effect, for the image displayed on the transparent monitor.
The patent Figure 1 is included below. The Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the invention 10, comprising a holographic display booth 12, showing a hologram-like image 14 of a human subject 16, captured using an image capturing system 18. Below the patent Figure 1, a corresponding real-life image of the invention system was captured from a YouTube BBC News video. Likewise, the BBC News screenshot shows the hologram-like image (in the backroom) of a human subject (in the front room), appearing within the holographic display booth (in the backroom). The human subject in the front room is standing in front of the image capturing system, with a white sheet mounted as a scene behind him. Two other people appear in the screenshot, viewing the holographic display booth (in the backroom).
The abstract of the invention is also included below.
A holographic display device for presenting a hologram-like image and a method of use are disclosed. The holographic display device includes a box-like structure, a translucent panel, and light panels extending the entire length of the box-like structure. The light panels position between the box-like structure and the translucent panel. The holographic display device includes a transparent monitor connecting the box-like structure at its front end. The transparent monitor receives and displays an image. The light panels illuminate light and the translucent panel diffuses, blends, and evenly distributes the light in the interior. Transmitted shadowing to the monitor provides a realistic appearance. A unique image capturing system for capturing the image to be displayed on the transparent monitor is also disclosed. The image capturing system transmits the image to the holographic display device in real-time or as a pre-recorded image using wired or wireless protocols. [Abstract]
References
Proto Inc. (former PORTL)
https://www.portlhologram.com/
Proto Inc. (former PORTL)
https://www.portlhologram.com/
South by SouthWest (SXSW)
https://www.sxsw.com/
Youtube video: PORTL on BBC News behind the scenes showing holotransportation.
https://youtu.be/_fRffou1aP0
