The Future Is Now: A Few Simple Tools Can Make Your Smartphone Project Holograms

If you have a few simple tools lying around and a few minutes to kill, anyone can transform a smartphone into a hologram projector.

The process is incredibly straightforward and given the amazing results, one would think it requires some fancy equipment and a Masters in physics, but it looks like anyone with some graph paper and a knife can figure it out.

A video demonstrating the steps to turn your smartphone into a hologram projector were posted — and have now gone viral — by a vlogger and tech reviewer from England named Mrwhosetheboss, United Press International reported.

In two days, it racked up 2.3 million views (and 4.7 million by Wednesday), but other users on YouTube have actually posted similar videos before this one, Time pointed out. Other tech-savvy types have attempted to crowdsource a gadget that allows iPads to project a hologram.

But there is really no expensive gadget required. According to the video, only some graph paper, a CD case, tape, a pen, scissors, and a knife are required to perform this futuristic magic trick. Mashable has provided the simple step by step instructions.

First, draw a rhombus template on the paper, then use that to cut out four of the shapes from the plastic of a CD case. The shape should measure about 6cm wide at the bottom, 1cm at the top, and be about 3.5cm high. Once these are carefully cut out, tape them together (glue doesn’t work, apparently), then pop it on the smartphone screen.

Now, you can’t use just any YouTube video to create the hologram — videos have been made just for the purpose. Once you’ve found one, play it in landscape mode, pop the projector on the smartphone screen, turn off the lights, and enjoy.

[Photo Courtesy YouTube Screengrab]