Photo: screenshot from Sichuan Daily

"The graduating doctoral students majoring in optics at our university have developed a 'miracle' of aerial imaging that can project the speech script clearly in the air." 

Recently, at the graduation ceremony of the University of Science and Technology of China, President Bao Xinhe used the "invisible teleprompter" to achieve a smooth "off-script" speech.

According to media reports, the device is equipped with the internationally leading "medium-free aerial suspended imaging" technology independently developed by Easpeed, a virtual reality technology company whose chairman is Han Dongcheng, is a fresh PhD graduate of University of Science and Technology of China.

This device can directly project the prompter interface of a conventional teleprompter in the air without relying on other physical display media. The aerial image has a certain viewing angle and is only visible to the user facing it, ensuring good privacy. With an automatic page-turning system, it can create "off-script speech" effect for the user.

Han, born in 1992 and as one of the developers of this magical teleprompter, entered the university in 2015 for postgraduate studies and graduated with a master's degree in 2018. He and his partner Fan Chao are classmates who lived in the same dormitory. Since entering the university, Han has been conducting research and development related to "aerial imaging" technology, relying on research platforms such as the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and finally developed interactive aerial imaging technology.

As a disruptive innovative display technology, aerial imaging technology is widely used in medical displays, intelligent vehicle-mounted displays, public facilities, information security, and many other scenarios. Easpeed independently developed medium-free interactive aerial imaging technology and negative refractive flat lens, which have broken international monopolies.

In some exhibition halls and hospitals in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province, the interactive aerial imaging technology is used in settings such as contactless elevator buttons, medical self-service machines, and self-service ticket machines, making the "touchscreen across the air" a trophy of science fiction a reality. 

Just as Bao Xinhao said at the graduation ceremony, "Students, you are the brave warriors about to embark on a journey, and also the most cherished children of the alma mater. Whenever and wherever, the alma mater will give you full support without reservation. I hope that everyone will enhance their abilities and skills in this best era, serve the people whole-heatedly, and contribute to the country with you innovation and creation."

Global Times