uh knone yet

There are 3D "fog" displays. Part of the trick is to use multiple beams -- you end up with the whole field glowing slightly (from the effect you describe), but you get bright spots where multiple beams intersect.

These aren't technically "holograms" (they aren't produced from a recorded or generated 2D interference pattern), but they can still be pretty cool.

So you've never tried to create a light beam with orbital angular momentum. A little bit of research might help you to sound like you know what you're talking about.

What im saying, is that holograms are not as efficient or advantageous as some other methods of conveying what holograms would try to convey.

But you also seem to be unaware that holograms are also used significantly not for "conveying," but for manipulating the physical properties of light, which cannot be done by other methods.

Oh - I thought u referring to a starwars-esc type where you would see the projection of a person.

I do see a great many applications of the method you described.

>A little bit of research might help you to sound like you know what you're talking about.
...

I'm totally for informing n00bs and all, but I don't think this particular comment merits quite this much condescension. Yes, there are applications of holograms that he (along with I and 95 % of the general population) knows nothing about, but I highly doubt he's talking about what you are. My guess would be he's talking about a hypothetical Star Trek hologram (or worse, the stupid CNN "hologram"), and saying it is his opinion that those are not ideal for the purposes they (would) serve. Yeah, as a physicist you're aware of real-life applications of holograms that he has no idea about, but that doesn't mean he can't have a valid opinion about the type of pop cultureish hologram that (judging from the pictures) this thread seems to be discussing.

This was the fifth or six comment in exactly the same overgeneralized vein, all thrown out there within an hour or so. Making an absurdly broad statement like "holograms are useless" doesn't, to my mind, deserve a carefully nuanced response.

I've seen several of his/her other posts, and agree they aren't the most inspired. However, be that as it may, I still say you two are talking about totally different things - he's thinking of the holodeck, and you're thinking about Real Life Holograms, which he (almost certainly) has never even conceived of before.

http://www.instructables.com/id/MAKE-a-VOLUMETRIC-PROJECTOR-from-JUNK/
and
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-volumetric-display/