Holography is a technique which allows the recording and playback of true, three-dimensional images. The image is called a hologram. Unlike other 3-D "pictures", holograms provide what is called "parallax". Parallax allows the viewer to move back and forth, up and down, and see different perspectives -- as if the object were actually there.

Holography was invented by Dr. Dennis Gabor at the Imperial College of London. In 1971, Dr. Gabor received the Nobel Prize in physics for holography. Originally, Dr. Gabor's hope was to improve the resolution of the scanning electron microscope. However, in the early 60's, University of Michigan researchers Leith and Upatnieks created the first three-dimensional holographic images. Around this time, Yuri Dennisyuk of the former Soviet Union also began creating holograms that were viewable using ordinary white light.

To this day, holography continues to provide the most accurate depiction of three-dimensional images in the world.