Technology: Holography: A reassessment: Holography enjoys a modest but secure and steadily growing position in areas, among others, such as nondestructive testing

After the initial hoopla and the inevitable reaction to exaggerated expectations, holography has emerged as neither the scientific panacea its rabid supporters envisioned nor the technological dud its detractors predicted. Rather, it has become established as a basic technology in a variety of fields. In some applications holographic techniques are now indispensable. And prospects for expansion are bright, although some of the more glamorous uses, such as three-dimensional television, may be farther away than originally thought.