University of Chicago Unveils 2-Arm BloomBeacon Mid-Air Display Safe to Touch

1 articles · Updated · Hackaday · May 23

BloomBeacon creates a stable circular image in mid-air while letting users physically tap on displayed interface elements such as buttons.
Two spinning arms drive the system: one carries LEDs to form the persistence-of-vision display, while the other uses capacitive pads to detect touch.
Soft, flexible arms hinge upward and “bloom” as rotation increases, making contact safe even if a hand passes directly through the moving display.
The project points to an alternative to conventional LCD or OLED touchscreens by combining mid-air visuals with direct touch interaction.

Could this university project disrupt the multi-billion dollar display industry, or will it remain a niche innovation?

As AR glasses advance, will physical mid-air displays become a novelty before they are even widely adopted?

What new privacy risks arise when our digital interfaces can physically track our every move in shared spaces?