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Synchronous Talking Holographic Portraits
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Ever since the
application of holography to human portraiture the possibility of
producing "talking heads" has been discussed. A variety of
methodologies that anticipated this effect have existed for some
time. One scheme for producing this effect made
popular by audio-visual producers and arcade amusement makers has
been the utilization of a featureless wig head (typically styrofoam)
on to which is projected a tightly masked motion picture image of a
human face talking. When the image of the talking face is seen
projected on the contoured wig head along with hearing the mag
striped or optical encoded sound track of the person's voice, a very
convincing illusion takes place at a
distance. Besides trade show applications, this
technique was popularized in an arcade machine called "Morgana".
After inserting 25 cents, the image of "Morgana", a fortune telling
gypsy, would appear, tell your fortune, and eat your quarters.
 Sheik
Mohammed sitting on the 4 ft. turntable with the Nagra and mike for
filming. |

Mark Diamond
examines the computer controlled talking hologram
system. |
The
illusion has more impact when viewed at a distance of at least six
feet away. This is mainly because when viewed at closer distances,
the brain is able to discern that no differential perspectives are
being presented it from both eyes. In other words the image of the
tape has only monocular cues and therefore it doesn't look quite
three dimensional. In the movie Star
Wars an attempt was made to visually suggest the appearance of a
talking, projected image hologram. In the scene, what appears to be
a holographic image of Princess Leah being projected into the room
by R2D2, has been created using conventional optical and cinematic
effects. In spite of the fact that holography is not actually used
in the creation of that scene the concept of talking holographic
images is communicated to the audience consciousness as a distinct
possibility in the future, and not in a galaxy far, far away, as we
shall see. |
Perhaps the first appearance of what
appeared to be a talking integral hologram, was that of Michael York
in the film Logan's Run. In that situation the motion picture
camera provided the fix angle of view in a scene where a hologram of
York is being interrogated by a computer. The hologram is heard to
say, "There is no sanctuary". In that case a voice over was utilized
and everything looks all right with the exception of a tiny amount
of time smearing that appears on the lips. Time smearing is an
optical aberration that sometimes occurs in integral holograms. This
phenomena can be anticipated and rectified out of the image. It is
due to the relationship between the frame rate of the cine camera
(taking the original footage for the holographic transfer) and the
relative movements in time of the subjects pictured as well as the
spacing of the holograms made from the original cine.
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