The ICT Graphics Lab at USC has created a low-cost volumetric 3-D display that brings Princess Leia one step closer to begging Obi-Wan for help. The system projects high-speed video onto a rapidly spinning mirror. As the mirror turns, it reflects a different and accurate image to each potential viewer.

The rendering algorithm can recreate virtual and real scenes with correct occlusion, horizontal and vertical perspective, and shading. Close to 5,000 individual images are reflected every second within the surface area and create a real-space three-dimensional object. Video below.

Dell really does make some nice LCDs and they just put out another new on that fits into that “nice” category with the UltraSharp 2009W. This is a 20-inch, 16:10 widescreen monitor that will support up to a 1680 x 1050 resolution.

Other notable features include a 5ms response time, a 2000:1 contrast ratio, 102% color gamut and a 170º horizontal viewing angle. It also has 4USB ports and DVI with HDCP and VGA which will let you get in on the protected movies. The stand even telescopes up and down, pivots, tilts and rotates 90 degrees. Dell has the UltraSharp 2009W available on its website now for $289.

The largest TFT LCD maker you’ve probably never heard of today said it had developed for its name brand clients the world’s first 16:9 Full HD TFT-LCD with 1920 x 1080 resolution for desktop monitor. Availability for this LCD from Au Optronics is projected later this year, though we don’t know as of yet pricing or who will actually put this panel into retail environments.

Auo’s new 24-inch TFT-LCD offers up a widescreen 16:9 format for better viewing of HD content. It offers up what is described as a “stylish thin and eco-friendly” design and is 1080p capable. Thinness of the display compared with more conventional 24-inch displays measures out at some points to 14mm.

NEC is out today with some new widescreen desktop displays targeted at business owners. These new AccuSync displays are the 19-inch ASLCD194WXM and the 22-inch ASLCD224WXM as well as the 17-inch ASLCD174WXM. Pricing is set at around $230, $330 and $210 respectively.

These new AccuSync displays are designed to refresh this particular NEC product family. They offer native resolutions of 1440 x 900 for the ASLCD174WXM and ASLCD194WXM, and 1680 x 1050 for the ASLCD224WXM; thin bezels; dual-input technology; built-in speakers and contrast ratios of 800:1 for the ASLCD174WXM, 1000:1 for the ASLCD194WXM and 900:1 for ASLCD224WXM.

Samsung is adding a new 19-inch display to its SyncMaster line for use in retail or consumer environments. The Samsung SyncMaster 942BW is set to have a price tag around $250.

The Samsung SyncMaster 942BW offers up a 19-inch display with a 16:10 widescreen format and 1440×900 resolution. Response time is rated at 5ms GTG and the contrast ratio is set at 500:1. You’ve also got support for HDCP via DVI and a narrow bezel.