June 21/96

“It’s as if a window remembers
what it saw.”

That’s how Bernd Simson, Physics
lab supervisor at Capilano College,
describes a hologram. “You could also
say it’s a three dimensional image
created with a laser,” he says, adding,
“although it can be more than just three
dimensional.”

Bernd is excited about holograms
because the College is in the process of
outfitting a physics holography lab to
be used for research purposes.

“We’ll be shooting our first test
holograms in a couple of weeks,” says
the College faculty member, who has
been working with the commercial
aspects of holography for the past 15
years.

“We’re interested in display

applications of three dimensional
imaging. This includes both artistic and
consumer purposes involving areas such
as animation, video, computers,
advertising, and consumer goods (i.e.,
watches and key chains with holograms
on them).

“There will be research activities
ongoing and students may be involved in
future projects,” Bernd continues.
“However, our immediate interest is the
holographic hard copy of digital images,
such as computer generated or video
captured images. Photographic images
would also be transformed into three-
dimensional holographic prints.”

The holography lab has been fully
equipped by donations and loans from
local companies, with major
contributions coming from the

>, College

Vancouver-based companies of The
Holographic Studio, Ltd., a specialist in
limited edition, color reflection
holograms, and Holocrafts, a dichromate
hologram mass production company.

“The potential benefits of the research
done in holography,” Bernd adds, “will
be in the display of three dimensional
images from areas such as virtual reality
and computer animation.”

The holography lab is governed by
Bernd, Dr. Stan Greenspoon (Physics
department), and artist Melissa
Crenshaw. Melissa’s holographic art
works have been exhibited throughout
the world and are in private as well as
public collections. She is also a past
recipient of the prestigious Shearwater
Foundation (NY) Award for outstanding
work in art holography.

Bernd Simson, Physics
lab supervisor, works in
the College’s new
holography lab, which
has been fully equipped
by donations and loans
from local companies.