Parity Mirror: Aerial Imaging Technology Heralds Extended Reality Era

Parity innovations, a Kyoto-based technology development-oriented startup will debut a new product at the CES 2022 that it believes "can help usher in the era of Extended Reality." Called Parity Mirror, this impressive product has the ability to project air-floating images.

What is the Parity Mirror?

Parity Mirror is the world's first-ever plastic plate that can project air-floating images of anything behind it. It features an imaging system that combines sensors, haptic devices and the Parity Mirror.

This plastic plate, which measures 300mm x 300mm, allows people to create aerial switches and aerial touch panels mid-air. These are user-controllable panels that can be tapped, pressed and swiped without the need to physically touch anything on the actual or physical device.

Revolutionary tool

The Parity Mirror system is an affordable and easy-to-use tool to create non-contact, interactive and intuitive interfaces. Its large size can convert and project images from PC monitors or mobile devices.

Moreover, the Parity Mirror has the ability to make computer-generated images appear in the air in the physical world instead of making them surface in the virtual world. The product has a great potential to even "augment our current living environment," Parity Innovations CEO Satoshi Maekawa said in a press release.

Those wondering how this is possible will be surprised at how simple the product operates. The Parity Mirror allows light to get through instead of reflecting it. After that, it projects the image of the object on the other side or behind the plate, which enables the image to appear like it is suspended mid-air.

This is the result when the plastic plate finely divides light beams via discrete unit optical elements. It forms images by gathering the divided rays based on geometrical optics.

Product applications

Murakami Corporation announced in February 2021 that it has completed the basic development of Floating Pictogram Technology (FPT). It is a contactless interface system using the next-generation air-floating image optical technology from Parity Innovations. In the early part of 2021, Murakami Corporation has started giving out sample devices that use this kind of technology.

With the COVID-19 still hovering above people's heads and ready to find a new prey anytime, the Parity Mirror could be used on various products that consumers are always in contact with. It could help prevent the spread of infection, which is easily spread by touching surfaces teeming with bacteria and viruses.

The Parity Mirror can be used in the operation of common or public toilets, bank ATMs, elevators and hospital reception, among others.

Final verdict

The Parity Mirror from Parity Innovations is a one-of-a-kind product that proves small can be powerful too. It uses a proprietary aerial imaging technology that has a wide range of applications.

Its ability to let images appear suspended mid-air while ensuring that they are still interactive is impressive. The product's applications could help prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria, including the COVID-19.

These innovative products along with their features and applications are the major factors we think make the Parity Mirror stand out from the rest of the new products at CES 2022. For the aforesaid reasons, we think the Parity Mirror deserves our Best of CES 2022 award.