In this blog post, we will look at the Lucius prism technology, which enables the creation of stereoscopic images without glasses, and its potential.
Naked-eye 3D, becoming a reality
After James Cameron’s movie Avatar became a worldwide hit, many action and fantasy movies were made in 3D. I haven’t seen Avatar myself, but I did watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 3D, which was a continuation of the craze. Compared to existing 2D movies, the stereoscopic effect was definitely better, but I felt uncomfortable because I had to wear stereoscopic glasses when watching the movie. In particular, it is very cumbersome for people who normally wear glasses to wear stereoscopic glasses. This inconvenience is a problem that people who do not wear glasses also share. The frames of the glasses used for stereoscopic viewing not only obstruct the view, but the pressure felt on the nose is also one of the causes of discomfort. Therefore, “technology that allows people to watch 3D movies with the naked eye” has long been a major challenge for 3D imaging engineers. Professor Kuk-heon Cha of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University is the person who has presented an important breakthrough to solve this problem. The “Arrays of Lucius Microprism” technology developed by Professor Cha’s research team is an innovative technology that allows people to view 3D images with the naked eye without glasses.
The principle of 3D images and the phenomenon of polarization
The reason we perceive the world in 3D on a daily basis is because we have two eyes. For example, if you close one eye and look at an apple in front of you, the apple will look slightly different to the left eye and the right eye. This is because there is a gap of about 6cm between the two eyes. This small difference causes the brain to combine the information from both eyes and perceive it in three dimensions.
Modern 3D movies are made using this principle. To watch a 3D movie, the visual information that enters each eye must be different. The stereoscopic glasses used in movie theaters are the tools that create this difference. The glasses have a polarizing filter that transmits light with different polarization directions to each eye. Light is an electromagnetic wave that propagates as electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other. The direction in which the electric field oscillates is called the polarization direction. Natural light is a mixture of light with various polarization directions. The polarization filter attached to the lens of the stereoscopic glasses only allows light with a specific polarization direction to pass through, so the left and right eyes perceive different images.
Glasses-free 3D imaging technology: Lucius prism array
The glasses-free 3D video display technology is not the first of its kind. Previously, there were technologies such as the Parallax Barrier method, but these technologies had the instability of switching between 2D and 3D depending on the viewing angle. This caused side effects such as dizziness or distraction for the viewer.
However, the Lucius prism array technology has solved such problems. This technology uses a film consisting of fine prisms (triangular prisms) that are tens of micrometers in size. One side of the prism is coated with a special material that absorbs light, which only allows light to pass in the desired direction. Thanks to this, the image is delivered to each eye, regardless of the angle from which the viewer is viewing, providing a natural 3D effect. Thanks to this technology, you can enjoy 3D movies without having to wear stereoscopic glasses.
Future applications of chemical biology
The Lucius prism array technology is not limited to 3D movies. It has various applications as part of research on polymer thin films. Polymer thin film research is the study of using nanotechnology to produce very thin films and control their properties. This research can be widely applied to high-value-added technologies such as organic transistors, organic solar cells, and semiconductors of the future. In particular, this technology can be easily attached to existing liquid crystal displays to create 3D images, so it is expected to be applied to various consumer electronics products such as home TVs and smartphone displays. It is also cost-effective, so it will be easy for many households to use.
The evolution of 3D imaging technology and our daily lives
The development of 3D imaging technology began in the film industry, but it is now expanding into our daily lives. As virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies rapidly advance, 3D displays have the potential to drive innovation in various fields, including education, healthcare, and manufacturing, beyond simple entertainment. For example, in the healthcare sector, 3D images can be used to plan complex surgeries with greater precision, and in the manufacturing sector, 3D design models can be visualized at a scale close to the actual size to improve the design process.
Ultimately, 3D imaging technology will become an increasingly important part of our daily lives. It will not only allow us to watch 3D movies without the need for 3D glasses, but will also provide a realistic visual experience in a variety of digital environments. With advances in chemical and biological engineering at the heart of this transformation, future research and development will enrich our lives.
