The latest invention developed by scientists from the University of Tokyo is a hologram projector that allows a person to touch a hologram with bare hands. Usually it is impossible to do so due t

o the fact that holograms are made only of light. However, improved technology allows a user to actually feel holograms floating in 3D space.

Researchers called their latest invention Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display. The hologram projector takes advantage of an ultrasound phenomenon, which scientists dubbed acoustic radiation pressure. Thus, the projector is able to generate a pressure sensation on a person's hands that are identified with the help of two Nintendo Wiimotes. More great inventions can be found here at www.InfoNIAC.com - check the links at the bottom of the article.

According to Japanese scientists, the technology does not require any physical contact, which means that the quality of the hologram will not be diluted. The team of researchers led by Hiroyuki Shinoda, recently presented their latest invention at SIGGRAPH 2009 in New Orleans.

On their website the team explains: "A retroreflective marker is attached on the tip of user's middle finger. IR LEDs illuminate the marker and two Wiimotes sense the 3D position of the finger. Owing to this hand-tracking system, the users can handle the floating virtual image with their hands."

If you look at the video below you can see scientists demonstrating how a person can feel virtual raindrops that fall off the user's hand. Such technology could be widely used in video games.