A hologram is a three-dimensional projection of a person, object, or scene that appears to occupy real physical space, visible to the naked eye, without a headset or glasses. Modern life size holograms are produced with a transparent LCD in front of a light box, and are used in hospitality, retail, telehealth, education, and events.
The short answer
A hologram is an image that looks three-dimensional to the naked eye you perceive depth and can see the projected subject from different angles without any wearable device. Modern commercial holograms achieve this with a transparent display in front of a controlled light source; classical scientific holograms record the interference pattern of a laser onto a photographic plate.
For business use today, “hologram” almost always means the first category, a life size, transparent-display projection like the Holobox, because those are the deployments people can actually deploy in a hotel lobby, a hospital consult room, or on a trade-show stand.
Hologram, holography, holographic: the difference
The three word-forms are often mixed up. Holography is the technique, the science of recording and reconstructing a light field. A hologram is the result, the three-dimensional image itself. Holographic is the adjective, as in a holographic display or a holographic image. In one sentence: you use holography to make a hologram, which you show on a holographic display. The word “hologram” comes from the Greek holos (whole) and gramma (message), coined by Dennis Gabor in 1947.
The three types of “hologram” you’ll hear about
1. Interference-based (scientific) holograms
The original technical meaning of the word, coined by Dennis Gabor in 1947. A laser illuminates a subject and a reference beam; the interference pattern is recorded on a photographic plate. When the plate is later re-illuminated, a true three-dimensional image reconstructs. These holograms live on museum walls, credit cards, and lab benches, not in commercial deployments.
2. Stage illusions (Pepper’s ghost)
The trick behind “the Tupac hologram” at Coachella 2012 and similar concert appearances. Not a hologram in the strict sense, it’s a 19th-century optical illusion. A high brightness image is projected onto angled reflective foil, giving the audience the impression of a person on stage. Impressive from a fixed viewing angle; falls apart from the wings.
3. Transparent-display holographic systems
The class of deployment that matters commercially, the modern holographic display. A transparent LCD sits in front of a custom-engineered light box; content is rendered on the display, and the light box provides the depth and luminance that make the projected subject feel solid. The Holobox is an example of this class, ~2 metres tall, plug and play, capable of showing a live remote presenter or pre recorded content.
This is the class of hologram people mean when they ask “how much does a hologram cost” or “can I put a hologram at my front desk.” The answer to both is on our pricing page: from €25,000 for a Holobox.
Holograms vs AR, VR, and video
A hologram is not augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR). AR overlays digital content on the real world through a headset or phone camera; VR replaces the world entirely with a headset-rendered environment. Holograms in the commercial sense require no headset, the viewer sees the projected subject directly, in the same physical room they’re standing in.
A hologram is also not the same as a video call on a flat screen. Video produces a two-dimensional image at a fixed position; a Holobox produces a life size projection with perceived depth. That difference, sub-conscious, but consistent, is what makes people react to a Holobox as if they’re meeting a person rather than watching a call.
Where holograms are used today
Life size transparent-display holograms are deployed across several sectors:
- Hospitality & travel. Hologram front desk staff, holographic concierges, hotel check-in. Aiden by Best Western and CIC Hospitality (rollout planned for 30 hotels in Scandinavia) run Holobox deployments.
- Telehealth. Real time doctor-patient consultations at life size. Crescent Regional Hospital (Texas) is the first US hospital to run a Holobox for remote consults.
- Retail. In-store hologram product demos and brand activations, including interactive hologram walls for launches.
- Education. Holographic guest lectures across campuses. The ITC ILO (the UN’s training arm) uses the Holobox to replace travel with holographic presence.
- Events. Trade shows, product launches, conferences. BMW Belux × Urban Media × Clear Channel used a holographic wall for the BMW i5 launch.
Common misconceptions
- “Holograms need glasses or a headset.” No. The point of a commercial hologram is that viewers see the projection directly, unaided.
- “Holograms are just fancy video.” No. A Holobox produces perceived depth and life size scale; a flat screen cannot.
- “It’s AI or a robot.” Depends on the deployment. A live Holobox is a real human being projected from elsewhere. An AI Hologram (our AI Hologram product) is a pre trained avatar. Content type is chosen per use case.
- “They’re fragile science-fair kits.” Modern units are enterprise-grade hardware. Custom delivery, installation, warranty. See our support FAQ for on site requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What does hologram mean?
A hologram is a three-dimensional image you can see with the naked eye, perceiving real depth and looking around the subject from different angles, with no headset or glasses. The word was coined by physicist Dennis Gabor in 1947 from the Greek 'holos' (whole) and 'gramma' (message).
Are holograms real?
Yes. Interference-based holograms are a real, Nobel-recognised optical technology, and life size holographic displays like the Holobox are deployed in hotels, hospitals, and events today. What is often called a 'hologram' on a concert stage (the Tupac effect) is actually Pepper's ghost, a 19th-century stage illusion, not a true hologram.
What is the difference between a hologram, holography, and holographic?
Holography is the technique (the science of recording and reconstructing a light field). A hologram is the result (the three-dimensional image itself). Holographic is the adjective (a holographic display, a holographic image). So you use holography to make a hologram shown on a holographic display.
Is a hologram the same as a 3D image on a screen?
No. A 3D movie or a stereoscopic screen shows a flat image that simulates depth for one fixed viewpoint and usually needs glasses. A hologram carries genuine depth and parallax: move your head and you see a different angle of the subject, with no glasses, the way you would with a real object.
How much does a hologram cost?
A life size holographic display starts at EUR 25,000 for the 86-inch Holobox; the 22-inch tabletop Holobox Mini starts at EUR 4,500. See the price list for the full range and rental options.
Further reading
- How does a Holobox work?the technical explanation of transparent-LCD holographic displays.
- Holobox vs LED wall, a side by side comparison for anyone weighing hologram displays against traditional signage.
- Holobox product page, specifications, pricing, and setup requirements.
- Exploring hologram technology , a longer-form article on the state of the industry.
Want to see one in person?
The fastest way to understand a hologram is to stand in front of one. Book a demo at our Culemborg studio or at your location.