The prototype Tangible 3D system created by Japanese firm NTT makes it easier to see and touch your beloved girl/boy friend or family member.
That is right, The "tangible 3D" system allows users to be connected and transformed into 3D images in real-time. If you're holding hands with the virtual representation of your spuse and he or she walks off screen, apparently your hand will feel the tug as s/he leaves your pseudo-grasp. The developer, NTT Comware, is reportedly exploring commercialization options including video phones, but there are limitless possibilities out there for this kind of technology.
NTT engineer Shiro Ozawa, who developed the system, envisages various applications. "You would be able to take the hand, or gently pat the head, of your beloved grandchild who lives far away from you," he says.
The system can also translate real-world objects into virtual representations. Two cameras image the items in 3D so that they can be displayed on the screen. A connected computer then processes the 3D image to generate a tactile representation of the object.
This set up means that if the object being filmed is moved, the three-dimensional image also moves in real-time and the user will feel the movement with their hand.
Check out NTT's website for more information about this project
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