About the factory
By 3D creators, for 3D creators.
Goodbye, Goggles
No dystopian futures allowed.
We live in 3D. Everything we see and do and touch in the real world is three-dimensional. And yet, most of our digital creations remain trapped on flat, 2D screens.
Meanwhile, the tech industry has put forth AR and VR as its solution. We strap bulky, uncomfortable headgear to our faces, in search of digital wonder. In our tireless quest for immersion, we’ve forgotten the best 3D experience of all: the ones shared in physical space with real human beings.
Our mission
We’re aiming to create a better future.
Say hello to holograms. Looking Glass Factory’s holographic displays facilitate shared experiences with virtual content pulled into the real world. In our vision of the future, technology doesn’t isolate us. It makes our human connections stronger.
No headsets separate us. Instead of escaping to other worlds, we bring magic into our own world.
The Hologram through the ages
1650s
Magic lantern invented.
Dubbed lanterna magica, this early invention uses a concave mirror behind a light source to project images on glass plates onto walls.
1851
First stereoscopes shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The hand-held devices hold left- and right-eye views of the same scene, which create a single 3D image. Great for individuals but not for groups.
1890
The kaiserpanorama is invented.
With this new format, multiple viewing stations allow people to view a rotating set of stereoscopic glass slides. Groups can finally share a 3D experience — albeit a bit awkwardly.
1920
Louis Lumiere invents Photo-stéréo-synthèse.
An inventor of modern cinema, Lumiere is fascinated with synthesizing not only motion but also 3d perception, so he creates a type of volumetric photographic technique . Though he develops a process for projecting "cinema in relief", the market is not yet ready for his work.
1947
Dennis Gabor invents conventional holography.
While working at a heavy industrial company, electrical engineer Dennis Gabor pioneers a technique to obtain a complete "holo-spatial" picture of real three-dimensional objects, albeit static and in a single color.
1956
Forbidden Planet is first film to depict a hologram.
In this classic movie, space colonist Dr. Morbius speaks to his daughter Altaira by way of hologram — a precursor to Star Trek and Star Wars years later.
1989
Back to the Future Part II shark hologram strikes!
In 1989’s version of 2015, a holographic shark is used to promote Jaws 19 at the Holomax Theater.
2010
Single color 2-second refresh holographic display developed at University of Arizona.
A holographic display system refreshes every two seconds, allowing researchers to send live 3D images. Lack of color and slow refresh rate restricts the tech to university labs.
2012
Adventure Time depicts the holo-message player in episode, "Dad's Dungeon".
Holo technology allows the inhabitants of the Land of Ooo to view projected media. Finn and Jake watch Joshua's messages to navigate to the end of Joshua’s dungeon.
2015
Looking Glass Factory creates a new type of volumetric display, Volume.
Looking Glass Factory’s first personal volumetric display uses proprietary "lightfolding" technology to project millions of points of colored lights into its glass display. Viewable by groups without headgear, but at too low a resolution for commercial adoption.
2017
Looking Glass Factory creates a new type of advanced lightfield display, HoloPlayer One.
Looking Glass Factory’s next product generates 32 views of a 3D scene that can be touched directly thanks to a unique retroreflecting reimaging optical circuit, creating a 3D image that floats above a pane of glass. A landmark achievement sold as a dev kit to advanced research labs.
2018
Looking Glass Factory launches the Looking Glass to 3D creators worldwide.
Looking Glass Factory puts the first holographic display on the desks of 3D creators everywhere thanks to the Looking Glass’ patent-pending combination of volumetric and lightfield technologies.
Pre-Order on Kickstarter3D creators, we like you!
Looking Glass Factory is a place where the dream of the hologram is becoming a reality. We’re made up of a team of 3D creators that won’t rest until the hologram is safely transported from the sci-fi movies we love into the real world forever.
A restored glass factory in Brooklyn.
We’re headquartered in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the home of the hologram. Interested in visiting? Shoot us a note!
An industrial building in Hong Kong.
We’re assembling the first hundred Looking Glass units in our Hong Kong lab right now. Come on by and see how we need to actually bake the Looking Glasses in an oven like loaves of bread (polarization reset trick #5)!
Standard Looking Glass
8.9”. For the desks of 3D creators everywhere.
Large Looking Glass
15.6”. For simulation/design review and retail display.