New Acer SpatialLabs tech on ConceptD laptops projects stunning holographic images without 3D glasses
Ever so often when you sit in on the usual tech events, you encounter something that would cause even jaded warhorses like us to raise our eyebrows and drop our jaws. The new Acer SpatialLabs concept tech seen in a prototype version of their next-generation ConceptD notebooks is one such technology.
When it comes to 3D experiences, tech manufacturers have attempted to implement it in some form or fashion over the years with a few notable milestones such as one phase where 3D content on TVs was all the rage while wearing glasses and one attempt by LG to create a 3D camera phone called the LG Optimus 3D close to a decade ago.
What is Acer SpatialLabs
The SpatialLabs tech suite leverages eye tracking cameras, a UHD 2D display with a custom liquid crystal lenticular lens bonded to it and custom real-time rendering software on the Acer ConceptD laptop to allow a user to quite literally see three dimensional content float in a virtual space of sorts in front of them on the display without the need for 3D glasses.
By creating these three dimensional mock-ups, the likes of engineers and 3D render artists can see a project in full view from all angles, the better to catch any potential costly oversights and see a project in its full glory.
By default, Acer ConceptD users experience a 2D view. This turns into the aforementioned stereoscopic 3D view when users fire up the SpatialLabs Experience Center that also features a suite of other apps that take advantage of 3D mode.
To wit, the suite has a SpatialLabs Model Viewer that accepts all major 3D file formats for viewing including Blender and Autodesk Fusion 360, a SpatialLabs Go solution that renders content into 3D, a PiStage for Maya tool that allows users to create or edit content on an extended 2D monitor and view changes in 3D in realtime and a SpatialLabs Player to for presentations.
At present, the prototype system is not for sale or mass production. Acer will provide a prototype notebook with the tech on loan for 3 months to accepted applicants. You can apply here. In the meantime, you can check out the other interesting news from the next@Acer 2021 event at https://www.acer.com/ac/en/MY/content/nextatacer-2021