Aerial displays are currently attracting attention as a futuristic display. As the name suggests, an aerial display is a technology that uses the reflection of light to display images in the air. It is also called aerial imaging technology, and allows images to appear in front of the naked eye without the need for special glasses. By adding sensors and tactile sensations, it can also be used as an aerial touch panel, so it is expected to be an evolution of general displays.
The idea of an aerial display itself has been around since 1997, when researcher Makoto Otsubo first disclosed the world's first patent application, "JP Patent Publication No. 09-005503," regarding an optical imaging device. At the time, the function as an imaging optical element was insufficient, but in 2011, with the cooperation of Asukanet Co., Ltd., which was eager to develop new technologies, the aerial display was successfully put into practical use.
In 2020, Parity Innovations began selling the 300mm square Parity Mirror 300. At the time, we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there was hope for non-contact touch displays as a new technology that could also reduce the risk of infection, and aerial displays were exhibited at many exhibitions. One of the benefits of introducing aerial displays has been that they can be operated without contact.
Aerial displays can be operated without touching the actual display, so they are thought to be useful in medical settings where hygiene is important. Another benefit in medical settings is that they are contactless, so there is no need to disinfect the parts that come into contact.
In addition, since images can be projected without a screen, there is no need for special equipment or preparation such as gadgets, and it is possible to project the actual object as if it were right in front of you, so it is expected to be useful in situations such as new product launches.
In terms of security, aerial displays have the characteristic of being difficult to see from the side or behind, so they have the potential to be useful in situations where security is important, such as entering PIN numbers and room numbers. There are several examples of aerial displays that are already in practical use, so let's introduce them.
First up is 7-Eleven, the largest convenience store chain in Japan. In collaboration with Asukanet Co., Ltd., Kanda Kogyo Co., Ltd., Toshiba Tec Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., and Mitsui Bussan Plastics Co., Ltd., Seven-Eleven has been conducting a demonstration experiment of "Digital POS" at six Seven-Eleven stores in Tokyo since February 2022.
"Digital POS" refers to a cash register equipped with an aerial display, where the cash register screen appears floating in the air. It is a cashless self-checkout register, and customers use it like a touch panel to perform checkout operations, making it possible to make a completely contactless checkout.
In addition, it is about 70% of the size of existing cash registers, which will lead to saving space at the cash register counter. According to a survey by Asukanet Co., Ltd., this demonstration experiment using an aerial display on a POS register appears to be the world's first attempt.
▶ The time is fast approaching when such everyday scenes will become commonplace, such as the "Digital POS" introduced by Seven-Eleven.
Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store will be offering a service in 2022 at the Valentine's Day event "Chocolate Paradise 2022 Venue 2" where a 3D avatar projected into the air will guide customers through the products. This is a service where a character named "Chocolate-kun", a chocolate explorer who supervises the product introduction, will appear as a 3D avatar and guide customers through the products.
Kiwami Co., Ltd., which develops VR store clerks and naked-eye VR solutions that use avatars for customer service, has combined its VR store clerk solution "xR Cast" and its naked-eye VR solution "Holo Masterpiece" that uses its proprietary hologram device "HoloVase M" to provide technology where a 3D avatar projected onto a hologram guides customers through the products. According to a survey by Kiwami Co., Ltd., this is the first time in the world that a hologram avatar using an aerial display has been used to guide customers through products in the distribution industry.
At the Hiroshima Prefectural Office, a completely contactless and non-face-to-face reception guidance system has been introduced with the cooperation of UsideU Co., Ltd. and NTT Docomo Chugoku Branch. This is a remote avatar customer service system developed by UsideU, "TimeRep," displayed on the aerial display "ASKA3D" provided by Asukanet, and visitors to the Hiroshima Prefectural Office can touch the image floating in the air at the reception desk to call a prefectural employee, etc. This is the first case of a completely contactless and non-face-to-face reception and guidance by a local government in the country.
▶ ASKA3D Plate, a leading aerial display developer (Asukanet Co., Ltd.)
ASKA3D Plate was developed by aerial display developer Makoto Otsubo in collaboration with Asukanet Co., Ltd. ASKA3D Plate is a special plate that forms a real image in the air at an equal distance on the opposite side of the real image by passing it through a special panel made of glass or resin. It has been introduced in local governments across the country, including the completely non-contact aerial remote customer service system introduced at Hiroshima Prefectural Office, the floor guide system at Yurihonjo City Hall in Akita Prefecture, the ticket counter machine at Sakai Town Hall in Ibaraki Prefecture, and the reception ticket machine at the new Yatsushiro City Hall building in Kumamoto Prefecture.
So far, we have introduced examples of aerial displays, but what industries are expected to introduce aerial displays in the future? First, there is the medical industry mentioned above. For example, by turning operation terminals in operating rooms and sterile hospital rooms, which require high levels of hygiene management, into aerial displays, it will help maintain hygiene levels, and if they are introduced in waiting rooms and reception areas, they can also be expected to have an effect in preventing infection.
In terms of benefits in terms of hygiene management, the food and beverage industry is also a good example. If order panels at seats or kitchen displays in the kitchen are turned into aerial displays, the panel surface can be handled without being soiled, eliminating the need for cleaning and disinfection. Similarly, introduction to food, pharmaceutical, and medical equipment manufacturing sites can ensure hygiene safety for operators.
In terms of introduction to manufacturing sites, the benefits of aerial displays can also be utilized in manufacturing sites where there is a risk of soiling the operation terminal or where it is difficult to install the operation terminal.
In general companies, there are benefits to preventing infection and contamination by introducing them to operation terminals that are touched by an unspecified number of people, such as bank ATMs, self-checkouts, and office reception terminals. In fact, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. is conducting a demonstration experiment of an "air touch intercom" at the entrance of the condominium "Premist Tsudayama" in Takatsu Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and an air display developed by Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. has been adopted by the complex "Tokyo Midtown Yaesu" and installed in the elevator halls of each office floor.
In addition, low resolution and clarity have been cited as disadvantages of air displays up until now, but Toppan Printing's unique new optical design technology has improved the resolution and clarity, making operation more comfortable.
Aerial displays used to seem like something from a science fiction movie or the near future, but they are becoming more practical and familiar. In the future, they will likely be used even more in everyday life.
▶ "La(+)touch(TM)" improves on the conventional low resolution and clarity (Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.)
"La(+)touch(TM)" is an aerial display developed by the major printing company Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. Toppan Printing's unique optical design technology has improved the low resolution and clarity that were the weaknesses of conventional aerial displays, making it possible to display clear images with high visibility.
It is also possible to display and stream aerial images parallel to the panel. It is the world's first device that is expected to be used in various fields such as medicine and manufacturing in the future.
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