Lab equipment 'could provide colour 3D images in real-time'

Real-time, full-colour, three-dimensional imaging capabilities could be added to lab equipment in the not-too-distant future thanks to developments at the University of Arizona.

Scientists at the Tucson-based academic institution have previously been able to transmit single-colour images on to a polymer-based display at a rate of one every four minutes.

However, they have now accelerated the process by over 100 times, to allow monochromatic holograms to update every two seconds.

A slower full-colour version has also been devised using a single-laser system to redraw the holographic image on the polymer surface.

Ultimately, lab equipment with imaging capabilities could be able to offer a three-dimensional view of an object, in full colour, updating at video-like refresh rates.

Nasser Peyghambarian, project lead, says: "This advance brings us a step closer to the ultimate goal of realistic holographic telepresence with high-resolution, full-colour, human-size 3D images."

The discovery comes as the university's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department celebrates its centennial year of groundbreaking research.