A HOLOGRAM machine that lets you be in 100 rooms at once has been unveiled at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.
I tested out the tech for myself and was turned holographic while also chatting with another hologram on the other side of the world.
The tech may sound futuristic but it’s easy to use, doesn’t lag, and is overall a painless experience.
It’s been created by a company called Holoconnects, which describes itself as “a leader in the revolution toward a more sustainable, engaging and technologically advanced future.”
The device I tested is aptly called the Holobox as it’s a large boxy gadget that looks a bit like a smart fridge.
Users need a Holobox device to be placed wherever they would like to travel as a hologram.
You just need a compatible camera to be in your actual location and then however you record yourself is how you appear on the 86-inch screen of the device.
It means one human can be in several places at once.
This could be revolutionary for businesses with international meetings as well as families who live far from loved ones.
While testing out the tech I spoke with Lisa, a Holoconnect employee based in Amsterdam.
“I’m joining you at the conference live from our head office of Holoconnect near Amsterdam,” the life-size hologram of Lisa said.
“Even though I’m in a different country, I’m still able to be there for this amazing box,” she added.
Lisa even showed me the time on her iPhone to demonstrate how we were chatting in real-time in the same room but from different time zones.
Becoming a hologram myself was a fairly simple experience.
I was directed to stand on a white background and look down at a camera, that wasn’t placed at the most flattery angle.
Looking directly into the camera is important as it allows your hologram to make direct eye contact with those looking at the Holobox.
You just talk to the camera like you would in a Zoom call and can have a seamless conversation in real-time.
Cameras on the Holobox allow the person becoming the hologram to see who they’re talking to, either life-size or on a smaller screen.
Holoconnects says a lot of companies are already testing out this technology including big brands like Nike and BMW.
