Personal Holograms: Transforming Retail and History at Walmart and the Museum of Medal of Honor

Personal holograms, once a staple of science fiction, are now becoming a reality in everyday places like Walmart and the Museum of the Medal of Honor. These advanced projections create the illusion of a lifelike person, providing a unique and interactive experience. From assisting shoppers to bringing history to life, personal holograms are reshaping how we interact with technology.

How Walmart Utilizes Personal Holograms

Walmart has integrated personal holograms into select stores, offering a surprisingly human touch to technology. When shoppers approach a kiosk, they are greeted by a life-sized holographic assistant that moves, gestures, and speaks like a real person. These assistants can guide customers to the right aisle, explain product features, or suggest alternatives if items are unavailable. For many, this interaction feels more natural and less intimidating than using apps or touchscreens.

The decision to use holograms at Walmart focuses on efficiency without sacrificing a personal feel. They handle repetitive questions like product location or promotions, allowing store employees to focus on more complex tasks. This approach is particularly beneficial during peak hours, reducing wait times at customer service counters. Additionally, holograms are being tested for employee training, providing new hires with immersive practice scenarios before they engage with real customers.

Personal Holograms at the Museum of the Medal of Honor

At the Museum of the Medal of Honor, personal holograms take on a more emotional role. Visitors can encounter holographic projections of real Medal of Honor recipients, who appear life-sized and share their stories directly with the audience. These aren’t just actors or generic stories—these are genuine accounts from the recipients themselves.

The museum staff collaborated with veterans and their families to capture these authentic stories. Holograms provide a unique opportunity for visitors, especially students, to engage with history on a personal level. This technology helps make history feel more immediate and impactful, preserving the voices and experiences of veterans for future generations.

The Technology Behind Personal Holograms

The personal holograms at Walmart and the Museum of the Medal of Honor utilize advanced projection and recording techniques. Volumetric video capture uses dozens of high-resolution cameras to record a person from all angles, creating a three-dimensional digital model that can be projected into a space.

To ensure realistic interactions, systems are equipped with microphones, speakers, and sensors. These components allow the hologram to maintain eye contact and respond to viewer positioning naturally. At Walmart, artificial intelligence interprets spoken questions and provides accurate responses. In the museum, the system uses pre-recorded answers to address common visitor questions.

The Impact of Personal Holograms

Personal holograms stand out because of the sense of presence they create. At Walmart, shoppers appreciate the lifelike interaction, making them more inclined to use the service. The combination of visual and physical cues, like facial expressions and hand gestures, makes the experience feel less like technology and more like a real conversation.

In the Museum of the Medal of Honor, holograms give voice and body to stories that might otherwise seem distant. Visitors can see the veterans’ expressions and hear the nuances in their voices, fostering a deeper connection to history.

Conclusion

Personal holograms at Walmart and the Museum of the Medal of Honor demonstrate how technology can be both personal and meaningful. At Walmart, they streamline shopping experiences, while at the museum, they preserve and share veterans’ stories. These applications meet diverse needs without feeling intrusive, offering a natural way for people to shop, learn, and connect with significant stories and experiences.

For further reading, explore Walmart’s use of technology and learn more about the Museum of the Medal of Honor.