October 10th, 2025

【Press Release】Development of a prototype that displays smartphone images in the air by glasses-free AR applying the "WOWGRAM" hologram technology.
~Demonstration samples revolutionizing AR experience to debut at “CEATEC 2025” October 14-17~

*1) In-house research.
Method: Survey on naked-eye AR/aerial display technology based on published patents, papers, and market research materials.
Target: Prototypes published by the end of September 2025 that "combine diffraction-based hologram technology" with video input from smartphones (including tablets) and **enable naked eye display of AR in the air**.

1. Background of development

The “WOWGRAM Light Guide Type D” incorporates two distinct types of proprietary holographic optical elements (HOE) with different functions at separate positions within a transparent plate made of glass or acrylic. It enables images displayed on a conventional display positioned near the first HOE to propagate via total internal reflection within the plate without requiring complex optics, making them visible through the second HOE. The hologram functionality enables images to be displayed at any position in depth, from floating locations to infinity. Its applications span diverse fields including automotive and home appliance interfaces, amusement machine displays, advertising and promotion, healthcare, education, and sanitation.

2. Prototype Overview

In this newly developed prototype, a smartphone is used as the display. When looking through the transparent plate, the smartphone's image appears enlarged at a distant position. For users who find it difficult to adjust their eyes’ focus, this eliminates the need for corrective glasses, as the smartphone screen is displayed at a distance in depth where focus is easily achieved.

Additionally, it allows for easy overlaying of AR information onto the real world without wearing such devices as AR glasses. This offers the advantage of gaining supplementary AR information, particularly in situations where observing real-world objects is crucial.

3. Main Applications Realized by the “WOWGRAM Light Guide Type D”

While various uses are conceivable, particularly promising fields of application include:
A) Vision support & healthcare (as countermeasures for presbyopia and myopia)
B) AR utilization in the field (medical/industrial design, driving/operation assistance, exhibit guides in museums/art galleries)
C) Entertainment, astronomical observation (potential for display at infinity)

4. Features and Advantages of this Technology

“WOWGRAM Light Guide" is a light-guiding plate type hologram originally developed by Artience Lab, Inc (patent pending). Unlike reflective holograms used for applications such as banknotes, light-guiding plate holograms have the advantage that they are not affected by outside light and can always display good image quality. Focusing on this advantage, we have developed products such as Type S (announced in 2021), which illuminates still holograms of pre-recorded 3D images, and Type D (announced in 2024), which can display moving images. This announcement is to introduce prototypes of improved versions of these technologies, as well as proposals for new ways to exploit them.

5. CEATEC Exhibit Overview

At CEATEC 2025 (*2), to be held at Makuhari Messe from October 14 to 17, 2025, in the Chiba Prefecture booth of General Exhibits, a demonstration machine that will allow visitors to experience these potentials will be on display.

(*2) CEATEC is Japan's largest comprehensive exhibition of digital innovation. Organized by Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), CEATEC brings together the latest technologies in a wide range of fields, including AI, IoT, next-generation communications, and mobility.

6. Future development

WOWGRAM Light Guide can be used in a variety of ways. We will work with these business partners to develop customization and special specifications. Please feel free to contact us.

7. About Artience Lab, Inc.

We are a start-up company aiming to apply cutting-edge hologram and optical technologies to the practical application of products and services that brighten and help people's lives. We will continue to promote research and development centered on hologram-related technologies, and introduce products to the market that will well satisfy customers in various fields and meet the needs of various equipment manufacturers.

WOWGRAM" is a registered trademark for technologies and products developed by our company that apply hologram technology.