2-way holographic – A home tinkerer, Julius Makes, has put together a DIY “2-way” holographic-style display that changes the image depending on where you stand, using a Wemos D1 dev board with an ESP8266 microcontroller, two I2C OLED screens, a 3D-printed assembly, and a beamspli
A holographic display usually sounds like something reserved for labs and product launches. But in a recent home build, Julius Makes turned it into a hands-on project you can actually understand.
The setup is designed to show a different image depending on your viewing position. At the center of the build is a Wemos D1 devboard running an ESP8266 microcontroller. The device is connected to a pair of OLED displays over I2C, each one routed to a specific part of a 3D-printed assembly.
The 3D-printed structure isn’t just there for looks. It positions each OLED display to aim light at a beamsplitter cube. That cube bounces the projected light into one face through 90 degrees and then out another face. By leveraging that path. Julius can aim one display toward one face and bounce it out to a different side of the cube. The result is stark: looking from either side of the beamsplitter cube shows a different image.
Because the beamsplitter cube also transmits some light directly through, each display’s image appears to float in space rather than simply sitting on a flat screen. It’s a small change in optical routing, but it’s what gives the build its “holographic” feel.
Julius notes that the display is being used in a puzzle box game. The timing and intention matter here—this isn’t just a display for showpieces. but something meant to interact with people in a real. game-like way. At the same time. there’s curiosity baked into the build: Julius is also asking whether there are other fun ways to use the same technique. beyond this specific puzzle box application.
holographic display 2-way display ESP8266 Wemos D1 OLED I2C beamsplitter cube 3D printed assembly DIY tech