Is 3-D TV preparing the way for holographic TV?

Holographic television, or “holo-video,” has been seen by many as the ultimate development not only of holography but of electronic visual communication generally. To make widespread, successful holo-video, four things are needed: 1) content, 2) a distribution mechanism, 3) sufficient processing at the receiver, and 4) suitable electro-optics at the display, and all of these must be available at prices suitable for consumers. In the past one to two years, there has been a great interest in 3-D television, but few researchers seem to have noted that many of the recent developments in 3-D TV are also solving – or at least pointing the way to solving – problems associated with holo-video. We examine particularly relevant developments in content capture/creation, content representation (including standardization activities), and the increased suitability of graphics processors for 3-D applications, and connect these with work at the MIT Media Laboratory in developing a holo-video display suitable for consumer use.