Ghostly illusion comes to life with Holo
Ever since John Henry Pepper demonstrated the spooky effect in his lecture tours in Victorian England, audiences have gasped at Pepper's Ghost, as it came to be known
Tuesday, 10 Dec 2013 09:22 GMT
Pepper's ghost: the mysterious illusion has been used to create Holo
Now a firm of inventors have created a modern version of the famed theatrical effect. Engage Production who specialise in interactive technologies for branded environments have announced the distribution of Holo—a 21st version of the illusion. The unique broadcast product is the largest 360 degree floating optical experience on the market, and remarkably is controlled by simple hand gestures. The diamond-shaped Holo was designed by Conran and devised by London-based innovation company Beagle Media.
Launched in October at Sir Terence Conran’s apartment in London, Holo is available in a range of colours and materials to achieve a unique minimalist design, including wafer-thin German engineered glass, brushed aluminium, and chrome.
It’s also the only hologram device with gesture control, and we at Engage can customise the gesture control experience to suit the client”
“Holo is the biggest hologram product on the market using projection and projectors,” says Steve Blyth, managing director of Engage. “But there’s more to Holo than sheer size. It’s also the only hologram device with gesture control, and we at Engage can customise the gesture control experience to suit the client. It’s a fantastic device for companies seeking an experience that will help them close deals, drive investment, educate, inform, and entertain.”
The illusion of Pepper's Ghost was likely to have been created at least four centuries ago, as there is a written reference to it in Italian inventor Giambattista della Porta's notes in 1584—who is credited with creating the first camera obscura. The technique is used in films, the theatre, and the autocue.
