Holograms: The story of a word and its cultural uses

Holograms reached popular consciousness during the 1960s and have since left audiences alternately fascinated, bemused or inspired. Their impact was conditioned by earlier cultural associations and successive reimaginings by wider publics. Attaining peak public visibility during the 1980s, holograms have been found more in our pockets (as identity documents) and in our minds (as video-gaming fantasies and “faux hologram” performers) than in front of our eyes. The most enduring, popular interpretations of the word “hologram” evoke the traditional allure of magic and galvanize hopeful technological dreams. This article explores the mutating cultural uses of the term “hologram” as marker of magic, modernity and optimism

Transcranial focusing of ultrasonic vortices by acoustic holograms

[EN] Acoustic vortex beams have great potential for contactless particle manipulation and torque-based biomedical applications. However, when focusing acoustic waves through aberration layers such as the human skull at ultrasonic frequencies results in strong phase aberrations which prevent the generation of sharp acoustic images. In the case of a wavefront containing phase dislocations, skull aberrations inhibit the focusing of acoustic vortex beams inside the cranial cavity. In this work, we demonstrate that phase-conjugated acoustic holograms can encode time-reversed fields simultaneously allowing the compensation of the aberrations of the skull and the generation of a focused vortex inside an ex-vivo human skull. The method is applied for single-element geometrically focused sources and results in a very simple and compact ultrasonic system. This work will pave the road to design low-cost particle trapping applications, clot manipulation, torque exertion in the brain and acoustic-radiation-force based biomedical applications.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities through "Juan de la Cierva-Incorporacion" Grants No. IJC2018-037897-I and No. PID2019-111436RB-C22, by the Agencia Valenciana de la Innovacio through Grants No. INNVAL10/19/016, No. INNVA1/2020/92, and No. INNCON/2020/009, and by the Generalitat Valenciana through Grant No. ACIF/2017/045. The action was cofinanced by the European Union through the Programa Operativo del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) of the Comunitat Valenciana, Grant No. IDIFEDER/2018/022.Jiménez-Gambín, S.; Jimenez, N.; Camarena Femenia, F. (2020). Transcranial focusing of ultrasonic vortices by acoustic holograms. Physical Review Applied. 14(5):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.14.054070S11014

Analysis of the sentiments of the participants in a clinical study to evaluate a balance rehabilitation intervention delivered by a Virtual Coach

Multiple studies for balance rehabilitation interventions have been accomplished aiming to demonstrate that sensory interventions and cognitive functionality are crucial for postural control and improvement of the quality of patient's daily life. However, none of the existing studies is filling the lack of expert physiotherapists availability. A pilot randomized study was conducted to assess the acceptability of the HOLOBalance telerehabilitation system. HOLOBalance is an interactive AR rehabilitation system which encompasses multi-sensory training program to enhance balance and cognitive coaching, for older adults at falls risk. In this work, we present a sentiment analysis of the patients participating in this study using the VADER methodology to evaluate and quantify their attitude towards the HOLOBalance system. Our results highlight the importance of findings positive polarity towards the AR interaction, which is based on the use of a holographic virtual physiotherapist. The compound score of 0.185 indicates the valuable positive feedback gained from the user experience

Empowering Community Dwelling Older Citizens to Improve Their Balance with a Novel Technology Platform

The prevalence of balance deficits increases as the population is ageing. Such deficits are associated with the increased incidence of falls which in turn is linked with substantial limited functionality and morbidity. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) as a component of the treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving balance. HOLOBALANCE is an intervention based on a novel technology platform for providing VRT unsupervised, at home which means that motivating citizens to be compliant and promoting empowerment are the cornerstones for its wide adoption. Here we present how citizens empowerment is being addressed in HOLOBALANCE

3D visualization and 3D printing in abnormal gastrointestinal system manifestations of situs ambiguus

Situs ambiguus is a rare congenital condition whereby sufferers have abnormally positioned viscera (1,2). In such cases, it is dangerous to perform traditional diagnostic examinations, such as colonoscopy, thus anatomy is explored through invasive surgeries instead. By reconstructing a patient’s viscera three-dimensionally, it is possible to trace the physical origins of the patient’s symptoms, while eliminating the necessity for invasive surgery. We present a case of situs ambiguus with use of a combination of different approaches including 3D visualizations and patient-specific 3D printing technique to assist clinical diagnosis and patient management. This case highlights the potential value of utilising the latest visualization tools in the diagnostic assessment of complicated pathologies