What does the future hold for hologram technology in education? As discussed in previous articles, holographic technology is evolving quickly. Here are some key areas where significant advancements are anticipated:
As a corporate trainer, I'm particularly enthusiastic about the emerging use of holograms in employee training. Holograms have the potential to transform corporate training by providing immersive, interactive, and adaptable learning experiences. They enable the creation of realistic 3D environments where employees can practice skills and scenarios, which enhances engagement and retention.
Holographic training offers on-demand access, lowering costs and time associated with traditional methods while ensuring uniform training experiences. Real-time feedback and assessment further aid skill development, and remote collaboration features facilitate teamwork across global teams. Additionally, holograms offer a safe space for practicing risky or expensive procedures and for simulating environments that are otherwise difficult to access or replicate.
Check out the following videos to see how Microsoft's HoloLens technologies and AI are revolutionizing workplace training, providing real-time and on-demand learning for front-line workers.
Advancements in holographic technologies will be increasingly influenced by further progress and advancements in artificial intelligence. Additionally, continuous improvements in mobile technologies, including smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices, as well as augmented and mixed reality technologies, will further enhance the quality and accessibility of holograms.
Holographic telepresence systems will enable more immersive and lifelike remote meetings, making it feel as if participants are in the same room. Initially, I viewed this as a far future possibility, but to my surprise, my research into Microsoft's HoloLens has revealed that this technology is already available and is truly impressive!
Being able to communicate anywhere, anytime, and remotely via virtual call platforms such as Teams would be a game changer. According to Microsoft, with the HoloLens 2, users can see a live video stream of any shared screen as a hologram in their space. The holographic shared content can be freely moved and resized to meet the demands of spatial workflows.
Improvements in display technology and AI will lead to more realistic and lifelike holograms. Moreover, advancements in touch and gesture-based controls will allow users to interact with holograms in a more natural way.
According to Leung and Shi (2024), a major limitation of current holograms is the absence of haptic feedback. To overcome this, holographic models could be projected onto 3D-printed training models to enhance tactile feedback. Additionally, integrating hand and tool tracking features into advanced mixed reality headsets would further support self-directed learning by offering immediate feedback and skill assessment.
Another aspiration I have for the future of holography is that somehow, we'll find ways to make this technology more accessible to a broader audience. As technology progresses, the cost of producing holographic devices should be expected to decrease, making them available to a wider range of users. Additionally, the ability to view holograms on common mobile devices like smartphones or wearable headsets would create significant demand and further enhance accessibility.
In the meantime, for those interested, I was excited to find a video demonstrating how you can turn your smartphone into a 3D hologram projector. I suppose this will do for now!
You can watch the video below.
Watch the following video to learn how to turn your smartphone into a hologram projector.
These are just a few examples of the exciting possibilities and promising directions for holograms. What are your views on the potential and future applications of holograms in education and training?