Interesting idea. But probably not practical (yet) in this application.
However, you're comment did spur an idea. Maybe this has already been done. If not, you heard it here first
Maybe using single or multiple miniature displays/monitors inside building structures like the one I saw at Elmhurst Model Railroad Club being used as a movie screen for a Drive-In theater model.
In passenger cars themselves, generally, I don't miss much movement by the people figures. On a train, they're mostly sitting. And when the train is moving (as in most of the time) you only get a glimpse of what's going on inside.
I've worked with the holographic APIs on Windows. They're called augmented reality, or AR instead of Vr. You need to wear a bulky set of special glasses to use them, currently. In 5 years time, I could definitely see an app that superimposes peole in a passenger car so you can watch people moving inside.
Personally, model trains are my escape from computers. I would never do that.
Depends on how detailed you want to get. Moving silhouettes? They did that 30 years ago on Starr Trek The Next Generation. In the model Enterprise. Certainly today's tech could get that down to O scale, if not HO. Moving detailed images? It may be possible in large scale today, but I doubnt it would be workable in HO. Give it a few years - the 'windows' of the coaches will be OLED screens on which you can display anything you want - image of an empty seat here and there, image of a person reading a newspaper in that seat over there... this is probbaly posisble in HO today, but would be rather costly for a special shape very fine resolution display panel - and you need 2 for each car.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Sounds like you want the Microsoft Hololens.
https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AADEqLIALk
Steve S
I originally saw this in a make magazine, but if you you make an upside-down pyramid with a flat top (or something like that) with an lcd screen positioned under it (or a phone), you can make a pretty convincing looking ghost-like projection on the glass that looks 3D-ish. You would definatly have to do more research on that, but its a start.
just thinking about where to buy a screen like that is already giving me a headach.
at least you don't need to wear glasses to see it!
Due to it's shape, I would think a passenger car would be hard to do. Be easier to do something like a storefront with large front windows I'd guess.