Holus
{{Orphan|date=November 2015}}
Holus is a 3D-image simulation product under development by H+Technology. The concept was first developed in 2013, before funding via Kickstarter meant the product could be taken to market. The purpose of Holus is to simulate holographic experiences and is technically different from typical hologram stickers found on credit cards and currency notes.
Holus has been criticized by some commentators as a revamping Pepper's ghost, a 19th-century optical trick.{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@sableraph/how-to-sell-a-19th-century-parlor-trick-as-a-3d-holographic-display-c12a861cb8bf|title=Did Holus scam 200.000$ of Kickstarter backers using a 19th century parlor trick?|date=11 June 2015|publisher=|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322111742/https://medium.com/@sableraph/how-to-sell-a-19th-century-parlor-trick-as-a-3d-holographic-display-c12a861cb8bf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://boingboing.net/2015/07/10/why-is-kickstarter-letting-a-h.html|title=Why is Kickstarter letting a hologram "scam" raise $250k?|first=Wrecksdart|last=Says|date=10 July 2015|publisher=|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322111144/http://boingboing.net/2015/07/10/why-is-kickstarter-letting-a-h.html|url-status=live}}
History
Holus was developed in late 2013 by a team in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.{{cite web|last1 = Gorey|first1 = Colm|title = The Holus tabletop hologram generator is now a reality| work=Silicon Republic |url = https://www.siliconrepublic.com/gear/2015/06/11/the-holus-tabletop-hologram-generator-is-now-a-reality|date = June 11, 2015}}{{cite web |date=September 2, 2015 |title=Holus Creates a New 3D Experience |work=SmartReality |url=http://smartreality.co/holus-creates-a-new-3d-experience/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119111836/http://smartreality.co/holus-creates-a-new-3d-experience/ |archive-date=2015-11-19 }}
Shortly before H+ Tech began looking for funding for the device, Holus won a number of awards for its design. This included he Vancouver User Experience Award in the non-profit category for partnering up with Ronald McDonald House to build Magic Room and the Peoples Choice Award to achieve excellence in joy, elegance, and creativity.{{cite web |date=December 1, 2014 |title=Vancouver User Experience Awards winners announced |url=http://habaneroconsulting.com/about/news/vancouver-user-experience-awards-winners-announced |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229041736/http://habaneroconsulting.com/about/news/vancouver-user-experience-awards-winners-announced |archive-date=2014-12-29 |publisher=Habanero Consulting}}
Its first major coverage came from a review by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in early 2015. At the time, the technology was demonstrated to bring animals to life within the 3D glass box. The product was referred to in the review as roughly the "size of a microwave".{{cite web |last1=Metz |first1=Rachel |date=February 27, 2015 |title=Virtual Creatures in a Box, Controlled by You |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535456/virtual-creatures-in-a-box-controlled-by-you/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301112846/http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535456/virtual-creatures-in-a-box-controlled-by-you/ |archive-date=2015-03-01 |publisher=MIT Technology Review}} The concept went on to win two awards at the NextBC awards in Canada in early 2015.{{cite web|title = DigiBC - Digital Media & Wireless in BC|url = http://www.digibc.org/cpages/blog|publisher = DigiBC|access-date = 2015-11-17|archive-date = 2015-11-18|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151118182011/http://www.digibc.org/cpages/blog|url-status = live}}
In order to build mass versions of the product, a Kickstarter campaign was launched in order to take the idea to market. It used a similar technology to the optical illusion known as Pepper's ghost. This drew criticism from some during its Kickstarter campaign. It launched its Kickstarter campaign in June 2015 and generated twice its target of $40,000 within the first 48 hours.{{cite web|last1 = Tepper|first1 = Fitz|title = Holus Is A Tabletop Device That Turns Digital Media Into A 3D Hologram|url = https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/10/holus-is-a-tabletop-device-that-turns-digital-media-into-a-3d-hologram/#.ry9hfw:AcpM|publisher = TechCrunch|date = June 10, 2015|access-date = June 25, 2017|archive-date = September 12, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160912165021/https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/10/holus-is-a-tabletop-device-that-turns-digital-media-into-a-3d-hologram/#.ry9hfw:AcpM|url-status = live}}
The technology is similar to the technology used to display the music artists Tupac Shakur and Michael Jackson.{{cite web|last1 = Usmar|first1 = Jo|title = Dead rapper Tupac is lined up for a tour after his Coachella Festival comeback|url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/weird-celeb-news/after-a-hologram-of-tupac-performs-at-coachella-797345|publisher = The Mirror|date = April 17, 2012|access-date = April 4, 2018|archive-date = May 13, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160513114933/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/weird-celeb-news/after-a-hologram-of-tupac-performs-at-coachella-797345|url-status = live}} Since then the technology has advanced, with a number of startups entering the market. One of these was H+ Technology, who first began working on the technology in early 2013. The aim of the product at the time has remained the same until today, to produce 3D technology that can be used in the home on a tabletop.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}
Research and development
Due to the technology being in its infancy, the media has covered the R&D of the product and its potential.{{cite web|title=Interactive Holographic platform Holus, with 3D printing design options, successfully funded within hours |url=http://www.3ders.org/articles/20150611-interactive-holographic-platform-holus-with-3d-printing-design-options.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613192312/http://www.3ders.org/articles/20150611-interactive-holographic-platform-holus-with-3d-printing-design-options.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 13, 2015 |publisher=3ders |date=June 11, 2015 }} Spatial light modulators have been mentioned as one potential development on future versions of Holus. The University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University have both assisted with the research work of such displays.{{cite web |date=June 11, 2015 |title=H+Technology breaks through crowdfunding goal on first day |url=https://www.ece.ubc.ca/news/201506/htechnology-breaks-through-crowdfunding-goal-first-day |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024115907/https://www.ece.ubc.ca/news/201506/htechnology-breaks-through-crowdfunding-goal-first-day |archive-date=2015-10-24 |publisher=University of Columbia}}