Konrad
09-04-2010, 03:00 AM
In late 2007, Sharp came out with these (http://www.japancorp.net/Article.asp?Art_ID=15247) 3.5" HVGA LCD touchscreens that have optical sensors embedded into each pixel.
The idea was to use them in portable devices; this model was intended for PDAs and phones, it could be scaled up for larger devices like laptops.
Screen brightness could autoscale based on ambient light. They could function as HVGA webcams. They could perhaps be integrated into a biometric system based on facial or even fingerprint recognition. They could perhaps be used for pointing and gestures which do not require direct contact with the touchscreen. The coolest feature (in my opinion) is that they could be used as scanners; the idea was that you could enter images and text into your PDA by simply pressing it against and moving it across pages in a book or even another display. Some people suggested using the display to read hand or eye movements into typed characters, though I doubt this would really work.
I know Sharp demonstrated the scanning idea worked, they could compile books into pdfs (filled with images and OCR'd text), they could "install fonts" through this method, they could even sustain binary data transfers between otherwise unlinked machines across their displays, they demonstrated some cool proof-of-concept apps which could capture WM clipboard content and launch websites being displayed on another computer. I don't think any of the biometric or pointing/gesture concepts were ever developed to a workable stage.
Do any devices use these (or similar) screens?
The idea was to use them in portable devices; this model was intended for PDAs and phones, it could be scaled up for larger devices like laptops.
Screen brightness could autoscale based on ambient light. They could function as HVGA webcams. They could perhaps be integrated into a biometric system based on facial or even fingerprint recognition. They could perhaps be used for pointing and gestures which do not require direct contact with the touchscreen. The coolest feature (in my opinion) is that they could be used as scanners; the idea was that you could enter images and text into your PDA by simply pressing it against and moving it across pages in a book or even another display. Some people suggested using the display to read hand or eye movements into typed characters, though I doubt this would really work.
I know Sharp demonstrated the scanning idea worked, they could compile books into pdfs (filled with images and OCR'd text), they could "install fonts" through this method, they could even sustain binary data transfers between otherwise unlinked machines across their displays, they demonstrated some cool proof-of-concept apps which could capture WM clipboard content and launch websites being displayed on another computer. I don't think any of the biometric or pointing/gesture concepts were ever developed to a workable stage.
Do any devices use these (or similar) screens?