Nokia patent reveals holographic-like mobile interface - the Communicator 3D

It seems fitting that news of this latest Nokia patent application has surfaced on May the 4th (a.k.a. bad Star Wars joke day) as it does, at first glance, appear to resemble the holographic technology seen in the first film.

The patent reveals that the Finnish giant may be working on a handset called the Communicator 3D that displays images in a pseudo-3D space in front of the screen, created using a combination of autostereoscopic 3D (as seen in the Nintendo 3DS and upcoming LG Optimus 3D) and eye-tracking.

The device uses the tracking to gauge what your eyes can see, and automatically shifts the image so that it retains a sharp 3D visual, doing away with the problem of viewing angle.

It also uses the camera for spacial awareness as to where your finger is in relation to the 3D image (hence the cool-looking diagram).

It isn’t, however, actually a hologram device, so your (read: 'my') dreams of playing that weird chess-like game against a man in a costume will have to wait for a few more years.