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Adding a projector to a handheld device, says Ming Wu, professor of electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, could change the way people communicate. Friends might share more movies and pictures, and business professionals who hesitate to pack a bulky projector for a presentation might start using more visuals when they pitch their products, Wu says. "I think it will dramatically change how people will interact with one another," he says. "People won't hesitate to use more image-based communications."
However, some researchers are skeptical that Microvision can pull off a commercially successful microprojector. A prototype is a far cry from a mass-manufactured device that phone makers and consumers will want to buy, says Olav Solgaard, professor of electrical engineering at Stanford. "It's a question of if they can do it reliably and at a reasonable cost," he says. Sprague wouldn't say how much a projector would add to the price of a cell phone.
Microvision expects to release its first products, a stand-alone projector (for media players, cell phones, laptops and other portable devices) and an embedded projector for a smart phone, in 2008. The company has signed a deal with an undisclosed electronics manufacturer in Asia, but the exact timeline for the products depend on the needs of partners and the energy efficiency of the lasers, Sprague says. In an embedded system, he explains, laser-energy efficiency could be a concern: it's expected that projectors made using existing technology would tap a battery fairly quickly. A phone in "projector" mode would use about 50 percent more power than a phone in "call" mode, Sprague says. But over time, he adds, "it will improve to the point where I do believe people will be watching full-length movies from their cell phones."
These pocket-sized projectors get a big picture out of a small device--and future technology will shrink them further.
This is cool. Pretty dang neat.
The best will be retinal displays integrated into your sunglasses or even contacts later down the line.
Not necessarily best for displaying something to a crowd, though. The difference between earpieces and a speaker phone.
If we thought those red laser lights in movie theaters were annoying...
I too think this will be a cool idea. I'm not sure why they immediately jump to the idea of integrating with cell phones. Why not just work on providing a projector and adapter cord that'll fit down inside a side pocket on a standard laptop bag? I can't help but wonder what's going to happen when everybody is able to do this. If we think people are annoying with their cell phone habits now -- just wait until anybody can project whatever they want wherever they want whenever they want.
I have spent the last few months trying to find a technology that would allow me to project straight from a laptop to a screen. This might close to what I am looking for. A clip on projector that feeds into your laptop would quickly reduce the need for projection systems. However, this might be similar to the collusion between the gas and car industry. SONY et al would lose valuable revenues if this was the case. In my school, we have 40 ceiling projection systems @ $3500.00 a piece - that's alot of ching ching. Any idea if there will be such a system entering the marketplace.
Thanks!
If this technology works for projecting from a device as small as a cell phone, why not use it for a monitor for nextgen ultra-portable PC's? Imagine a PC that has a soft, flexible keypad that can be rolled around (or rolled up in) a ruler-shaped motherboard, in which high capacity chips replace a hard drive and the projector replaces a monitor. You could have a heck of a PC in your pocket. A small, collapsable projector screen could be provided for those situations in which you have nothing else on which to project the image.
OK, after just a LITTLE thought, I think I see a few tech hurdles... oh, well.
Isnt this all going in 1 direction - EVERY capability in 1 small portable gadget ?
- instant, weightless capability to converse, project, receive & exchange ideas with averyone else when and where we choose - without buttons or keyboard - so must be voice commands ie whispers also or just THOUGHT commands - aha - ESP and we're done - dont need the gadget after all - I think we should concentrate on the ESP side of things - in study for control of artificial limbs already -
We may have all the capabilities we need right in our own heads - it's a whole universe in every single brain after all and we only use 10% of it -
what fun (:>)
Guest (hosro59@comcast.net)
People will determine how they will use any new form of technology. I would like to see if use in home theaters would be
a better idea to further shrink the intrusive hardware.
As a last thought: some of us have more to show than others, just like having something to say, but that will stop no one from using what they have.
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baroque1980
4 Comments
my alternative idea
I think microprojector indirectly make a large screen for handheld gadgets like mobile phone. and I have an alternative way can do same thing, theoretically maybe better.
you can find via this address: http://titanoasis.com/blog/2006/10/17/how-to-make-large-display-screen-for-mobile-phone/
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redfer0857
1 Comment
Re: my alternative idea
I like your idea of mobile phones configured to communicate with other appliances for projection purposes. The only limitation of this concept is that it is not always case that TV sets and standalone projectors are around whenever you have the urge to watch something bigger on screen. Both concepts can be realized as competing products. But, I will still put my bet on the built-in projector provided that better batteries replace existing ones and the overall cost is brought down to what is regarded as fair.
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