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Holographic digital signage delivers interactive characters

Digital signage is increasingly becoming more interactive and responsive, as vendors develop new ways to engage directly with customers whether through basic touchscreen functionality or dynamic content. Some companies are also experimenting with hologram technology to deliver more engaging content.

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December 5, 2019

Digital signage is increasingly becoming more interactive and responsive, as vendors develop new ways to engage directly with customers whether through basic touchscreen functionality or dynamic content. Some companies are also experimenting with hologram technology to deliver more engaging content.

One example is Portl Hologram Company, which recently released its HOLOPORTL digital signage solution, which can beam in people live for 4K interactions, or deliver pre-recorded hologram content.

The device, which was first unveiled at the L.A. ComicCon from Oct. 11-to-13, where guests were able to interact with both virtual characters and real people. Digital Sigange Today spoke with David Nussbaum, CEO of Portl to get more details on this holographic solution.

Q.What type of display is used for this device?

A. The display used is a life-sized panel of “Hologram Glass” which is made from a proprietary blend of components including a modified 4K transparent touchscreen LCD, 80k lumens of bright white LEDs, and studio level production equipment built into a museum quality display case. 

Q. How is it activated? When a user approaches it, when they press a touchscreen?

A. They may be activated manually, by touchscreen, by remote control, motion activated, or via live HoloPortation. It's very versatile. PORTL customizes our machines so we can build it to be activated based on the client’s needs. 

Q. Can it do live streaming or just prerecorded characters?

A. Prerecorded characters or content which plays on a loop is great for many activations and the possibilities are endless. But one of the things people get most excited about is live streaming, or what we call HoloPortation. Beaming people via hologram from anywhere to anywhere else in the world (or to multiple locations at once) with the ability to hear, see, and interact in real time is the thing that makes our machines very special and separates us from everyone else. You can also film, edit, and present your own content directly on the device. 

Q. What do you see as the primary markets for this device?

A. There are too many to list. However... museums, sports complexes, music venues, universities, experiential agencies, retail locations, theater lobbies, political campaigns, hotel lobbies, and trade shows/conventions just to name a few. I am talking to international tourist board about having multiple units in their airports with lifesize, pre recorded representatives talking to people arriving in their country. It’ll have an interactive element and be very informative. 

Q. How have you seen it used at events?

A. I have two favorite ways it's been used at events so far. 1. Through live MoCap: Performers rigged with motion capture equipment essentially puppeteer and lend their voice to an animated character which vertically beams into the event in a way that the animated could never appear otherwise. 2. Live HoloPortation. Event-goers use our HOLOPORTL machines as hologram photo booths. They step into our HoloPortation Station where their real time likeness is then beamed into a HOLOPORTL and then hundreds of people can take very shareable pictures and videos for social media. 

Q. How does it improve the guest experience?

A. Guests tell us that it's entertaining, informational, educational, and just fun. When people see themselves as a hologram, they instantly become kids again.