What once belonged to the realm of science fiction, seen in movies like Iron Man and Minority Report, is fast becoming reality. Researchers at the Public University of Navarra in Spain have developed a revolutionary technology called FlexiVol—a touchable 3D holographic display that you can control with your hands.
This innovation promises to change the way we interact with digital information, allowing users to physically manipulate floating holograms in real-time, merging digital content with tactile experience like never before.
Introducing FlexiVol: How It Works
Unlike traditional displays that rely on physical interfaces like touchscreens or keyboards, FlexiVol projects mid-air 3D visuals that can be swiped, pinched, rotated, or even “grabbed” using natural hand gestures.
At its core, FlexiVol uses elastic vibrating strips instead of rigid oscillating diffusers found in older prototypes. These elastic surfaces flex and vibrate in controlled patterns, manipulating light and depth cues to generate fully interactive volumetric holograms.
Through precise vibration modulation and light refraction, these strips can create the illusion of solid, floating objects that respond to touch. This opens up a world of opportunities where users no longer need gloves or headsets to interact with digital environments.
Safe and Intuitive Interaction
This system is designed to be user-friendly and safe, making it ideal for use in environments like:
- Museums and exhibitions
- Classrooms and research labs
- Virtual meetings and 3D modeling
- Gaming and entertainment
Unlike earlier versions of holograms, which were often just visual displays, FlexiVol’s tactile feedback system makes the user feel as if they are really interacting with the object in space. The elastic materials are soft and safe, ensuring that users—including children—can engage with the display without risk of injury.
Debut at the CHI 2025 Conference
FlexiVol made waves at the 2025 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), one of the leading venues for breakthroughs in human-computer interaction. Researchers demonstrated real-time interaction with 3D holograms of objects like cars, globes, and molecular structures—all floating freely in mid-air.
Audience members were amazed by the ease with which they could manipulate and explore 3D content. The demo included real-time object rotation, resizing, and rearranging—performed entirely through natural gestures.
Why This Matters: A New Interface Paradigm
This marks a paradigm shift in interface design. Touchable holograms bridge the gap between physical reality and digital content, creating a “mixed-reality” workspace where:
- Engineers can prototype products mid-air
- Surgeons could simulate procedures
- Students could interact with holographic lessons
It moves beyond flat screens, offering a more immersive and intuitive form of interaction, one that mirrors how we manipulate physical objects in the real world. This could lead to new forms of learning, creativity, and productivity across industries.
How It’s Different from AR/VR
Unlike augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR), FlexiVol doesn’t rely on headsets, glasses, or projection mapping. The display is self-contained, standalone, and operates in normal ambient light conditions—making it more accessible for daily use and non-gamified environments.
There’s no need for wearable tech or calibration, which eliminates a major barrier to adoption in educational or public settings. It democratizes access to immersive technology by making it as easy as interacting with a tablet or computer monitor.
Use Cases in Education and Culture
Imagine a classroom where students physically rotate a holographic solar system, or a museum where visitors interact with a 3D-rendered ancient artifact that responds to hand gestures. This opens the door for interactive learning and immersive storytelling on a whole new level.
Educators could use FlexiVol to demonstrate abstract concepts—like magnetic fields, chemical reactions, or historical timelines—through physical models that students can manipulate in mid-air. This bridges the gap between theory and experience.
Medical, Scientific, and Engineering Applications
Beyond education, the implications for medicine and engineering are profound:
- Surgeons can rehearse operations with holographic organs.
- Scientists can visualize complex molecular structures in real-time.
- Architects and engineers can prototype buildings or machines in air before committing to models or blueprints.
In medical training, students could practice diagnostic procedures or anatomical navigation using lifelike, dynamic holograms, gaining tactile familiarity without needing cadavers or physical simulators.
Entertainment and Gaming Revolution
The gaming and entertainment industries are already taking note. With tactile holography:
- Game developers can create real-time, touchable 3D worlds.
- Film and TV producers can introduce new dimensions to storytelling.
- Musicians and performers could include interactive holograms in live shows.
This could herald a new genre of immersive theater or gameplay, where audiences don’t just watch or listen—they participate physically in the story.
Challenges and What’s Next
While promising, the technology faces several hurdles:
- Scalability: Can FlexiVol displays be made large enough for group use?
- Cost: Will consumer-ready versions be affordable?
- Content creation: Designing volumetric 3D content requires new tools and standards.
- Latency and fidelity: Ensuring ultra-low latency for real-time interaction is essential for seamless experiences.
Despite these, researchers remain confident that mass adoption is only a few years away, especially as production costs decrease and content libraries expand.
The Future of Holographic Computing
FlexiVol is just the beginning. Researchers envision future versions integrated with:
- AI-based gesture recognition
- Voice assistants
- Real-time environmental sensing
- Haptic feedback enhancements
This would create fully immersive holographic workspaces, eliminating the need for physical monitors, keyboards, and even walls. Such systems could be deployed in homes, offices, and public installations.
Conclusion
The arrival of touchable 3D holograms is a clear sign that the line between digital and physical reality is blurring. FlexiVol may not (yet) be Tony Stark’s full lab setup—but it’s a huge leap toward a hands-on future of computing, where interaction is as natural as reaching out and grabbing what you see.
As the technology matures, we may see a world where holograms are as common as smartphones are today—tools not just for display, but for interactive, immersive problem-solving, creation, and play. The future, quite literally, is now within reach.
