This Digital Photo Frame Aims to Connect People to a Holographic Tomorrow

Holograms are a staple of science fiction, appearing frequently in the expansive realms of Star Wars, Star Trek, Halo, and The Expanse. If a narrative is set in the future or outer space, it likely features a hologram. Unfortunately, this isn’t as common in reality, despite the enthusiasm of many tech companies to bring holograms to life.

The newest endeavor to introduce a holographic device into our lives comes from Looking Glass, a Brooklyn-based firm that has been exploring 3D holographic screens for nearly a decade. Today, they unveiled the Musubi, a digital picture frame aimed at consumers.

Courtesy of Looking Glass

Users can upload any image or video, and Musubi employs artificial intelligence to identify the most significant portion, presenting it as a 3D holographic image. This could range from a video of a child’s first steps to a moment from a birthday celebration. (Or, as one of Looking Glass’ examples humorously illustrates, a cat revealing its backside.) The image is showcased in 3D, visible in nearly 170 degrees of holographic detail.

“Our aim is to make holograms accessible to everyone,” states Looking Glass CEO Shawn Frayne. “In essence, it brings us closer to the sci-fi dream than ever before.”

The Musubi stands in stark contrast to offerings like Razer’s hologram-like Ava AI, introduced at CES this year and elaborated on at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Razer’s product is an AI chatbot that hovers in a 3D tube for your desk, marketed as a “Friend for Life” to assist with gaming or daily organization. (While it features a cute anime girl design, other characters are also available.)

The Musubi is a 7-inch photo and video frame requiring no Wi-Fi, apps, cameras, or subscription service for operation. The necessary processing to convert an image or video into a hologram is conducted on a PC or MacBook, and Looking Glass provides the software free of charge. Once images are modified, they can be transferred to the device via a USB-C cable; Musubi can hold up to 1,000 images (with video clips limited to 30 seconds, as they take up more storage). The device can be connected to a wall outlet and features a built-in rechargeable battery lasting up to three hours.