Interactive 3D projection system revealed

Star Trek's holodeck seems one step closer to reality with the announcement from 3Dsolar of a new interactive desktop 3D imaging solution.

Compatible with both Macs and PCs, the 3Dsolar device is described as "holographic-like", projecting a 3D image into the air without requiring the use of glasses.

The images themselves are created using a 2D view, and users interact with the virtual images directly with their hands, just as they would with a real-world object. Users click icons for manipulation.

The company claims that a prototype of its invention has already been shown to industry experts and engineers.

In small-scale production, the device costs about $5,000 (around £2,800), but 3Dsolar expects that if large-scale production commences the price of such devices could drop to $1,500 (£840) -- still out of the reach of most consumers, but a plausible purchase for sales displays -- a market specifically noted by the technology's inventor, Patrick Levy Rosenthal.

"Imagine a 3Dsolar screen displaying selected store products 8 inches away from the actual retail store window and offering the passer-by the possibility to interact with the virtual objects," said Levy Rosenthal in a recent statement.

3Dsolar will show off the device at this week's Innovact conference in Reims, France and on October 25 at Nvidia in Santa California.

Check out there website at http://www.3dsolar.com