Multivox: Volumetric Display • Hacker News Board

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#41

Post by PetitPrince » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 10:34 AM UTC

two_handfuls wrote: post #34

JKCalhoun wrote: post #2

In case you miss it, a video of the thing in operation is linked: https://youtu.be/pcAEqbYwixU Reminds me that there are limitations to volumetric displays—namely that, since you have no idea where the viewer is located, there is no backface culling you can perform. So it seems to work best for "cutaway" views. I'd like to see one in person. Might be "magical" — the video only kind of hints at this.

I think this limitation could be overcome with the right hardware. For example imagine a spinning display like those of the article but somehow tuned so that they are only visible when exactly head on. In that case, you know where the observer is: right in line with the screen. So you can have backface culling; as the display spins you render all 360 (or however many) viewpoints. Now granted, this doesn't deal with h…

> imagine a spinning display like those of the article but somehow tuned so that they are only visible when exactly head on

I don't understand: doesn't defeat the purpose of a volumetric display (seeing what is displayed from multiple point of view) ?

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#42

Post by paxcoder » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 11:14 AM UTC

polishdude20 wrote: post #37

This looks crazy good! I love how you made it easy to see how balanced it is. Shameless plug, I made a similar thing but for bike wheels! https://youtu.be/o8n-bu2kKnc?si=BPn8tRbFTiQROJg1

[dead]

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#43

Post by mjorgers » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 11:32 AM UTC

bananananna3654 wrote: post #13

This one uses a projector on oscillating rubber bands so that you can reach in and touch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wwKOXxX9Ck

That’s actually really neat. It’ll be interesting to see how durable these kinds of displays end up being. Rubber bands tend to loosen up with use, or when exposed to uv rays.

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#44

Post by qoez » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 2:15 PM UTC

tclancy wrote: post #18

qoez wrote: post #7

Never knew this was possible. I hope some huge company with lots of resources jumps on this and drives up the resolution and price.

>drives up the resolution and price. Uh, I get the former but why the latter?

meant down :p

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#45

Post by ruined » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 3:32 PM UTC

two_handfuls wrote: post #34

JKCalhoun wrote: post #2

In case you miss it, a video of the thing in operation is linked: https://youtu.be/pcAEqbYwixU Reminds me that there are limitations to volumetric displays—namely that, since you have no idea where the viewer is located, there is no backface culling you can perform. So it seems to work best for "cutaway" views. I'd like to see one in person. Might be "magical" — the video only kind of hints at this.

I think this limitation could be overcome with the right hardware. For example imagine a spinning display like those of the article but somehow tuned so that they are only visible when exactly head on. In that case, you know where the observer is: right in line with the screen. So you can have backface culling; as the display spins you render all 360 (or however many) viewpoints. Now granted, this doesn't deal with h…

that's just a flat display with extra steps

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#46

Post by two_handfuls » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 4:09 PM UTC

wowczarek wrote: post #29

thesz wrote: post #3

These displays use rotating mechanisms. This ones does not: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrfBjRp61iY Volumetric display in the video above uses static projector whose pixels light up etchings inside solid glass.

Whatever the outcome, when someone sets up an optical table, I'm sold.

Speaking of tables, you probably already know about Tilt-Five? If not, they made a very neat social AR system focused on tabletop gaming.

https://www.tiltfive.com/

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#47

Post by two_handfuls » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 4:11 PM UTC

ruined wrote: post #45

two_handfuls wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this limitation could be overcome with the right hardware. For example imagine a spinning display like those of the article but somehow tuned so that they are only visible when exactly head on. In that case, you know where the observer is: right in line with the screen. So you can have backface culling; as the display spins you render all 360 (or however many) viewpoints. Now granted, this doesn't deal with h…

that's just a flat display with extra steps

It’s different from a flat display in that if you walk around it, you see a different perspective. And it works with any number of viewers.

Re: Multivox: Volumetric Display

#48

Post by two_handfuls » Fri, Dec 05, 2025, 4:13 PM UTC

PetitPrince wrote: post #41

two_handfuls wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this limitation could be overcome with the right hardware. For example imagine a spinning display like those of the article but somehow tuned so that they are only visible when exactly head on. In that case, you know where the observer is: right in line with the screen. So you can have backface culling; as the display spins you render all 360 (or however many) viewpoints. Now granted, this doesn't deal with h…

> imagine a spinning display like those of the article but somehow tuned so that they are only visible when exactly head on I don't understand: doesn't defeat the purpose of a volumetric display (seeing what is displayed from multiple point of view) ?

This would be a poor man's "lightfield" display: as you move left or right you see a different perspEctive, just like you would if it were a physical object on the table instead of the spinning screen contraption.

So you would indeed see different points of view.