It’s funny how technology changes your perspective. Remember those paper-thin glasses, with one red lens and one blue? They would make images look slightly raised, but still flat, still far away. Compared to today’s 3D imagery, that was laughable. But at the time we thought it was awesome.

Well it looks like we might be saying that about today’s cutting-edge tech like touch screens in just a couple of years! I read this Wall Street Journal article about holograms and the new technologies that are turning that fantasy into reality. New hologram chips the size of Tic Tac candies could be installed on mobile phones by 2015.

Implications for Retail

This technology would turn a mobile phone into an interactive, self-service 3D catalog! Customers could see every part, every detail, and every feature up close and personal, without needing physical stock. 

Using 3D for Event Sales

Venues could use holograms to share the experience with potential customers. 3D models of the event space and interactive holograms of performers in action can give a preview of what the event would be like. 

Using Holograms for Showrooming with Interactive Kiosks

This technology would transform any kiosk into a showroom by offering the ability to show hundreds of products in just a small part of the retail floor space. This would take customer engagement to a whole new level.

These are just a few examples, but this technology would change the world as we know it because people would start interacting with tech in totally new ways. It would be the next iPhone, and would revolutionize how technology blends into the real world.

What do you think of this future interactive 3D technology? Are you a fan, are you skeptical, or are you somewhere in between?