Microsoft came pretty dang close to projecting holograms in the real world with their HoloLens mixed reality headset. However, those holograms can only be seen through the eyes of the viewer so long as they’re wearing the head-mounted display. Tech startup Looking Glass, on the other hand, has developed an interactive lightfield kit that allows you to make holograms that everyone can see with their naked eye—no head-mounted displays required. Called HoloPlayer One, the development kit and the accompanying SDK allows users to create, display and interact with 3D creations in a holographic state. Looking Glass states on their website, “The cinema dream of the hologram has finally arrived with…

Since its release in 1959, Henry Dreyfuss’ The Measure of Man and Woman: Human Factors in Design has been an invaluable resource for designers, engineers, architects, and anybody else responsible for shaping the manufactured world around us. The indispensable resource, which contains thorough and accurate measurements for children, teenagers, adult men and women, and those with physical handicaps, has allowed designers to accurately define the dimensions of their products to suit the immediate needs of their users. Additional data guidelines for the visually and hearing-impaired, as well as other differently abled individuals, have helped shape the standards for numerous government-defined disability acts. Suffice to say, this book is the real…

It’s time for another round of apps that cover the spectrum of your beloved mobile device(s)! The Weekly App Smack is the best of new or updated design and productivity apps (and maybe a couple of fun ones, too) for the busy design or engineering professional and this week we have a list sure to make you more efficient. Do you have an app suggestion that has made your life easier or changed up your workflow? Let us know in the comments below or send it into tips@solidsmack.com. Hit it! Focos (iOS — Free) Focos brings DSLR-like photography to your dual-camera iPhone with large aperture and real bokeh effect, which most…

Get that stretch out of your system with this week’s Spotify-powered SolidSmack Radio Playlist. It’s fashioned up, ready to make you pull your shoulder blades back and knock out another week of meaningful work while you bob your head to the beat. Whether you’re in the shop milling aluminum, sketching the latest product prototypes or modeling up a 3D storm, consider these tracks as a tool for your process. This week we’ll get the groove going with “My Sentiment” from the Universal Togetherness Band before diving into sweet melodies from Omni, SALES, Fraternal Twin, Wild Nothing, and others before wrapping up with “Sun Burn” from Dirty Art Club. Rock! Have…

It’s been a long time coming, but after nearly three years, Magic Leap has finally unveiled their One augmented reality headset— dubbed the ‘Creator Edition.’ The head-mounted alternate reality platform consists of a pair of oversized Lightwear goggles, a portable CD player-looking external computer known as Lightpack, and a handheld controller. The headset is purported to use the company’s ‘Digital Lightfield’ display technology, complete with multiple sensors for spatial awareness. https://youtu.be/DNSwXlQcou0 The Lightpack supposedly packs enough top hardware to rival an Alienware gaming PC or MacBook Pro. This, of course, is in conjunction with another low-powered PC housed in the goggles themselves, which has some machine-learning capabilities (unknown as to…

Don your favorite bathrobe, cream that coffee and get comfortable with this week’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader. The Weekend Reader features a handful of the most interesting articles featured on the ‘Smack over the past week ranging from tips and tricks to inspirational designs, processes, and more. So lay back, relax and take a load off while reading the top ten stories on SolidSmack this past week. Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too. This 965-Part 3D Printed Jet Engine Actually Works Count this one under one of the coolest engineering class projects, ever. Wrecked Ford Mustangs Find New Life as High-End Timepieces Of all…