Proto Introduces Life-Sized 3D Hologram Boxes for Virtual Communication
US-based startup Proto is revolutionising virtual communication with its hologram-like technology that beams life-sized video feeds into various settings, including universities, medical centres, and hotels. The company, which calls itself the world’s “first holographic communications platform,” has developed large boxes capable of creating a 3D-like visual effect, giving users the sense of physical presence.
The Proto devices, which weigh over 400 pounds and stand taller than an NBA player, use visual techniques to simulate depth, creating shadows and reflections to give the illusion that a person is physically inside the box. Despite not being true holograms, the result is a highly realistic representation of individuals, both through live feeds and pre-recorded videos. The technology works with any 4K camera, including an iPhone, to generate the effect.
David Nussbaum, founder and CEO of Proto, highlighted the practical applications of this innovative platform. “We just beamed William Shatner from Los Angeles to a convention in Orlando that he couldn’t attend physically,” he said, illustrating one of the many uses of the technology.
Proto offers a range of models, including the Proto Epic and Proto Luma, priced between $29,000 and $65,000. For smaller settings, the company also provides the Proto M, a 30-inch tall tabletop version retailing for $5,900. The service is also available on lease for businesses at $2,500 per month.
Initially catering to the business sector, Proto has attracted clients like Amazon, Verizon, and the NFL. However, Nussbaum envisions a future where smaller, more affordable units could be found in households for under $1,000, allowing families and friends to “beam” into each other’s homes from distant locations.
The technology has already been deployed at New York’s JFK Airport, offering concierge services, and is being tested at universities such as MIT and Stanford for virtual guest lectures. Dr. Gary Burnett, a professor at Loughborough University, noted that students who experienced the technology reported a strong sense of the lecturer’s presence, with improved attention and engagement.
Proto’s expansion into healthcare is also notable, with doctors at the West Cancer Center in Tennessee using the system to communicate with patients in remote areas. Dr. W. Clay Jackson, a physician at the clinic, explained that the life-sized projections help deliver complex medical information more effectively than traditional telehealth formats.
As Proto continues to push the boundaries of virtual communication, it promises to transform the way people connect across distances, from business meetings to family gatherings.
