Blog of Wishes

The M2-series Heliodiplay is the second-generation mid-air projector with 30-inch diagonal (76cm) display area (4:3 aspect). Heliodisplay images are unique and offer many advantages over existing displays, but the M2 is not designed as a replacement for conventional displays. Are you starting to feel like you are in a SciFi movie already?

The Heliodisplay’s projected image hovers a few inches above the unit. The top of the image is 28″ above the top of the unit. The M2 is about the size of a tower desktop computer case turned on its side. Heliodisplays will work in well-lit environments such as trade show floors, and also low-light environments such as museums and nightclubs. As with any display technology, lower ambient light makes the image easier to see.

Heliodisplay images are not holographic although they are free-space, employing a rear projection system in which images are captured onto a nearly invisible plane of transformed air. What the viewer sees is floating mid-air image or video. These projected images and video are two-dimensional, (i.e. planar) but appear 3D since there is no physical depth reference. While conventional displays have the benefit of being attached to a physical substrate, Heliodisplay projections are suspended in air, so you will notice some waviness to the quality of the projections.

The Heliodisplay is designed to be hidden (into a pedestal, table etc), so that only its projected image is visible. The display connects to a standard video source (such as DVD player or PC) and projects any images that would be viewable on a computer screen or television. No specialized hardware or software is needed to view images.

The interactive version of the Heliodisplay (M2i) allows a finger placed on the floating image to act as a computer pointing device. The user can interact with floating images or video, and manipulate them as you could with a mouse, including clicking and dragging. The M2i comes with Heliocast software and PC drivers to enable this.

Specifications
Image Size: 30″ measured diagonally (4:3 aspect)
Interactivity: Virtual Cursor Control – Heliocast ver. 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 or 16:9
Resolution: Native – SVGA 800×600 pixels; Resize Support: 640×350 to 1280×1024 pixels
Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 (at projection source)
Color Reproduction: 16.7 Million colors/ full frame video
Video Input connectors: RGB analog, USB, RCA video, S-VIDEO, VGA
Input signal frequency: Fh: 31-80kHz; Fv: 56-120Hz
Video & PC Compatibility: PC, Mac, NTSC, PAL, SECAM HDTV: 480i/480p, 720p, 1080i
Image Translucency: Controllable visibility
Operational Sound Level: 38 dB
Electric Power Voltage: 95-115 or 220-240V VAC
Electric Power Frequency: 47-63 Hz
Electric Power Consumption: 350W
Working Temperature Range: 55F (12C) to 95F (35C)
Working Humidity Range: 25% – 95%
Weight: 34.5lbs/ 15.7kg
Dimensions: (W): 28.3″, (D): 15.9″[29.8″ expanded], (H): 9.3″(71.8cm x 39.6cm [76cm expanded ] x 36cm)
Warranty: six months limited parts and labor

Heliodisplay in action

General demonstration of Heliodisplay…

Sin Episodes Emergence running on Heliodisplay…

Pricing
The Heliodisplay is still quite an expensive toy so it is definetly not for everyone and not everyone can afford it… for instance I can only dream of having a Heliodisplay, because I have to save all the money I get, and not even spend a cent, in the next five or so years to be able to afford one 🙁

If you want to buy it
+ Heliodisplay M2: $18,100
+ Heliodisplay M2i: $19,400

If you rent it for – 1 week – 2 weeks
+ Heliodisplay M2 – $9,600 – $13,800
+ Heliodisplay M2i – $12,800 – $14,800

– Get more information about IO2 Technology’s Heliodisplay