Konica Minolta thinks it has something unique to add to the emerging smart glasses field—holographic know-how.

The photocopier maker is showing prototypes of glasses that project holographic images at the Ceatec 2014 tech expo outside Tokyo this week.

The glasses feature what the company calls a holographic optical element (HOE), a transparent film that sits on the right lens of the glasses while a bulky, cylindrical electronics module lies on top of it.

A relatively large battery unit is connected to the prototype glasses by a wire. The device also houses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules for smartphone connectivity.

During a demonstration with a stand-alone HOE mounted on a rack, various full-color images could be seen through it overlaid on a background video of a busy city street.

The device displayed a timetable, radio station information and other information. When a small toy car was placed in front of the HOE, 3D graphics could be seen projected on the car.

The graphics were easy to see compared to using Google Glass. The scenery behind the HOE was also quite clear.

Eighty percent of visible light can penetrate the element, according to Konica Minolta. The prototype device is still in development, and could also be fitted to regular glasses.

“This is a combination of optics and networking technology,” said Keisuke Mitsui of Konica Minolta’s Corporate R&D Headquarters. “We’re listening to what potential users and partners have to say while exploring applications.”

The technology could be used in applications ranging from displaying text typed on a linked keyboard to goggles that would relay rescue information to firefighters. It would first be marketed to enterprises, according to the company, which did not give a timeline for commercialization.

Full story: Peering into the future of displays: Holographic glasses, 3D screens abound at CEATEC | PCWorld.