Scientists have developed what they claim is the world’s thinnest screen. They made the display from a soap bubble-like material on which they can project either flat or 3D images. The researchers—from the University of Tokyo, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Tsukuba—used ultrasonic sound waves emitted from speakers to alter the surface of a bubble made from colloidal materials, those in which one substance is microscopically dispersed evenly throughout another. The material is difficult to puncture and thus, users can interact directly with it. The concept is based on the dynamic bidirectional reflectance distribution function, which defines how light is reflected at an opaque surface. The researchers say multiple membrane-based screens could be used in combination, such as for museums or exhibitions because the novel, spherical displays would attract viewers. They will demonstrate their technology at SIGGRAPH 2012, to be held in Los Angeles 5 through 9 August. (PhysOrg)(SIGGRAPH 2012)
