A new Kickstarter has been started for a device called Holus, which promises to convert 2D digital content into a 3D hologram, somewhat.
The tabletop device was created by H+ Technologies, a company out of Vancouver, and at the time of this writing the project had raised almost $101,000, more than double the goal of $40,296.
"Holus is a tabletop holographic platform that converts any digital content from a computer, tablet or smartphone into a 3D hologram," says H+ Technologies on the Kickstarter page. "To put it simply, whether it is a board game, DNA structure or the solar system, your content comes alive - view it from four different angles and interact with it in ways that have never been possible."
The Holus comes in two different versions - the Home Edition and the Holus Pro. The Holus Pro is a little larger than the Home Edition, and it also includes an HDMI port and a software development kit for developers to create content for the Holus.
Of course, it's important to note that the device isn't really 3D or holographic in the traditional sense of the words. Instead, it works by projecting images up into a glass pyramid, creating images which look 3D and can be seen from 360 degrees around the device.
The base Home Edition and Pro have both sold out on Kickstarter, but those wanting to back the project can still order the "One Holus" or "One Holus Pro" in the color of their choice for $688 or $769, respectively. Note that the prices seem so random because of the currency conversion from the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar.
Prizes range from $8, which will get you a "sincere thank you from the H+ team," to $6,476, which will get the backer a Holus Pro, SDK, and the chance to tour the "Magic Room," where the team conducted its research. A night's stay in Vancouver is included, but the flight to get to Vancouver is not.
The Holus is expected to ship in the second quarter of 2016, although the team behind the project has already demoed working versions of the Holus at multiple conferences. Not only that, but it also developed a larger version of the Holus as big as a room at the BC Ronald McDonald House for the children staying there.
"Our work with Roland McDonald House has shown us some of the most beautiful outcomes of this technology," continued the company on the Kickstarter page. "We partnered to create the world's first interactive holographic Magic Room, a very special place for the children staying at the house, where they can scan physical toys to create real-time visual and audio effects for the simulated hologram and virtual world."
