The solution invented by the Polish designers is one step into the future. The inventors admit that they were inspired by one scene from "Star Wars", where a hologram of Princess Leia displayed by R2D2 was calling for help: "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope. The inventors from Warsaw managed to produce a very similar effect to that trick of George Lucas' crew. It is not a coincidence then that their patent solution is called Leia Display System.

"The idea consists in displaying an image from the projector on a very thin screen made of water vapour," said Marcin Panek, software engineer for Leia Display System, in an interview for Polska.pl. "Thanks to innovative technology, we are able to emit narrow vapour streams over a long distance, obtaining a translucent screen of a considerable size. An image displayed on it looks as if it were suspended in the air.

As the screen is almost invisible, it is also untraceable for motion detectors, such as Kinect compatible with Microsoft Xbox video game console. With this technology, augmented reality elements can be added to real objects or persons. This way one may display a man who is "burning".

Marcin Panek stressed that the main problem of similar solutions available on the market is lack of vapour management, as the vapour structure distorts the displayed image. Polish inventors managed to overcome this technical obstacle. "When we designed this device, we wanted the vapour beam to be laminar, i.e. with no swirls, as long as possible. Only in such form vapour remains almost invisible and at the same time perfectly renders even the smallest details of the image. Without doubt, our solution comes as near the real hologram as possible," says Daniel Skutela, the chief designer of the device.

The difference between a hologram and Leia Display System is that the latter cannot be viewed from all sides. After all it is a flat screen, although it displays images with a perfect 3D effect rendition. Furthermore, as the screen is almost invisible, it is also untraceable for motion detectors, such as Kinect compatible with Microsoft Xbox. This gives the possibility to manipulate with the displayed image which responds to touch accordingly. With this technology, augmented reality elements can be added to real objects or persons. This way one may display a man who is "burning".

In 2014, the Polish company is going to introduce the invention to a broader public from the whole world and start its expansion abroad. The Polish invention has already been cited in foreign press, including the Daily Mail and the BBC.

"Leia is a perfect tool to present a company at trade fairs or to "augment reality", e.g. during dramatic performances," says Marcin Panek. "The way the image responds to gestures makes always a tremendous impression on the audience. It can already be seen at all events during which a prototype of Leia Display System has been shown. In 2014, the Polish company is going to introduce the invention to a broader public from the whole world and start its expansion abroad. The Polish invention has already been described in foreign press, including the Daily Mail and the BBC. Perhaps next year, the screen will contribute to the invention of phones introducing conversations with holograms of our friends, just as in "Star Wars.”

ALEKSANDRA STANISŁAWSKA