An Andotrope is a device that allows viewing of a two-dimensional video from any direction, without limiting it to a specific perspective as with conventional screens.

Name and idea

The device is named after its inventor, Mike Ando, with the suffix ''-trope'' (

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

τρόπος, "turning"). The idea came to Ando working on his at the end of 2022 started eight month project for re-creating the ''Gehn’s Holographic Imager'' of the computer game Riven – The Sequel to Myst for the Mysterium 2023. The Andotrope is a

replica A replica is an exact (usually 1:1 in scale) copy or remake of an object, made out of the same raw materials, whether a molecule, a work of art, or a commercial product. The term is also used for copies that closely resemble the original, without ...

of this device, but differs from a technical perspective in that the image is not a three-dimensional

hologram Holography is a technique that allows a wavefront to be recorded and later reconstructed. It is best known as a method of generating three-dimensional images, and has a wide range of other uses, including data storage, microscopy, and interf ...

Functionality

According to Ando, the device updates "a 150-year-old children’s toy into the 21st century.” The functionality of an Andotrope is similar to a

Zoetrope A zoetrope is a Precursors of film#Modern era, pre-film animation device that produces the illusion of motion, by displaying a sequence of drawings or photographs showing progressive phases of that motion. A zoetrope is a cylindrical variant of ...

, but differs technically on several key points. The device is built from a cylindrical housing containing at least one fixed screen. The cylinder has a slot for each screen that allows it to be viewed from outside. When at least two screens are used, the content must be synchronized to show the same image at the same time. This case is attached to a rotating electric turntable to create the

stroboscopic effect The stroboscopic effect is a visual optical phenomenon, phenomenon caused by aliasing that occurs when continuous rotational or other cyclic motion is represented by a series of short or instantaneous samples (as opposed to a continuous view) at ...

of a

film projector A movie projector (or film projector) is an opto-mechanical device for displaying motion picture film by projecting it onto a screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in ...

, whereby a linear sequence of images becomes a fluid video. Ando states that his device can reach 1200

revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or r⋅min−1) is a unit of rotational speed (or rotational frequency) for rotating machines. One revolution per minute is equivalent to hertz. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 de ...

, and with two screens, can show a video at approximately 40

frames per second A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (co ...

. According to Ando, important requirements for the screens are: * No flickering * High brightness * Strong resistance (due to high rotation speed)

Andotrope in the media

The invention was met with a generally positive reception. For example, the

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

''Diyode Magazine'' published an interview with Ando covering the device and process of its invention. The German magazine Coolsten also covered the Andotrope. The YouTube channel ''The Action Lab'' released a video in November 2024 covering the use of

3D printing 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer ...

and two

smartphones A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as mult ...

in creating its own Andotrope.

References

Animation technology Australian inventions Display technology {{improve categories, date=January 2025