m@terials, developed by Jitsuro Mase, use an off-the-shelf LCD projector to display a “3D theater” on a table.

[left: hardware configuration. right: 3D images generated by the device]

A video clip available on the Digital Stadium website.

It’s amazing that this actually works because the hardware device looks deceptively simple. On the table top are transparent plastic strips standing diagonally at 45 degrees. The plastic strips make images stand up. The virtual people can be projected on to a strip closer to you or the ones further away from you.

Digital contents that can be effectively displayed on this device should conform to specific rules, however, “it is not so difficult” according to the creator of this device.

This device could be used for many different kinds of things besides the “3D theater” especially if it could be made larger (possibly as big as a computer displays or a building floor?) with hi-fidelity realistic images.