Japanese researchers say they've brought hologram technology to a whole new level. Holograms you can touch and interact with.
We've all seen traditional holograms - 3-D images that look real --but don't have any substance. Last year, Prince Charles used hologram technology to deliver a speech in Abu Dhabi rather than fly to an environmental conference there. It looked great but if you tried to touch him --or any holographic image --your hand would go right through.
Now there's a system that allows you to feel a free floating hologram as though it were resting on your hand. The tactile hologram could have a number of practical applications. For example -virtual switches in hospitals for machines where contamination by touch is an issue.
With H1N1 and super bugs in hospitals you can see how a virtual light switch could be useful.
There are a number of gaming and entertainment applications as well.
Predictions are five to 10 years before we'll see that technology on store shelves but the way technology moves today --it could be sooner.
With a report from CTV British Colombia's Chris Olsen
