MKBHD

I Turned My Boss Into a "Hologram" To Prove a Point

The video explores the concept of holograms, distinguishing between the popular, often misunderstood idea of a hologram and its technical definition. The presenter argues that many things commonly perceived as holograms, such as Miku at Meikufest, Pac-Man at Coachella, and the Razer Waifu at CES, are not true holograms. Instead, these are typically 2D projections on transparent screens or potentially advanced transparent displays like OLED or miniLED within a tube. The presenter emphasizes that these displays lack true 3D depth, appearing flat when viewed from the side. A true hologram, according to the technical definition, is not a specific device but a technique for recording and displaying 3D information. Traditional holography involves capturing depth information by recording interference patterns created by splitting a laser beam. One beam reflects off the object, and the other travels directly to the holographic film. The interaction of these beams creates interference patterns that, when stamped onto a material like metal with fine ridges, can reconstruct the 3D light field of the original object. When ambient light is shone onto this surface, it reflects in a way that mimics how the object originally reflected light, providing a parallax effect that simulates depth as the viewer moves. However, these "real" holograms are described as somewhat underwhelming, creating a simple "window" effect with limited perspective shift.