Rumor: Samsung to Debut Transparent Screen Laptop this Year
Posted 02/07/10 at 03:11:14 AM by Pulkit Chandna
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The transparent AMOLED laptop that Samsung had on display at CES is soon going to hit the market with the promise of bragging rights galore. According to PlusPlasticElectronics, a commercial variant of the concept showcased at CES will be available within the next year.
“We have a lab in Korea that is currently working on developing a laptop with partially-transparent screen,” Samsung Electronics America's Reid Sullivan told PlusPlasticElectronics. “Soon, I imagine that all Samsung's audio-visual products will feature this technology. We want to be the first in this market.”
It appears as though transparent AMOLED displays have infatuated Samsung. It also plans to launch a see-through MP3 player christened IceTouch, which according to the report will be available in the early half of 2010. The IceTouch is likely to cost around $330. The real challenge for the consumer will be to think of a practical use for such gadgets once they cease to be a novelty.
A Good Use
Submitted by mdkplus on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 3:00pm
This would be good for displaying that Aquarium screen saver. Or maybe a good lit fireplace screen saver. Or a digital photo album, you could see it from both sides. "Aunt Martha, why does the picture show that big ol' mole over your left nostril, when it's supposed to be on the right?" "Yes Johnny, look over on this side....". Just think, your backlighting can be an appliance of your own choosing. If you shine a light through it and project it onto a wall from the keyboard side, you could choreograph shadow puppets in Flash. there's lots of possibilities..
Kindly paron my ignorance. . .
Submitted by POMF2K on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 1:49am
Why?
Submitted by jaycek017 on Tue, 02/16/2010 - 5:48am
What would really do it for me, is if they some how were able to incorporate the same technology as one way mirrors on one side it is just a mirror on the other you could see through, that way your not exposing to the world that yes, you are driving a motorcycle and watching multiple strangers introduce themselves in the most intimate and unnatural of ways. I think it would be a hit, if you could see through your screen but others could not see through from the other side. it would make a great tablet as well, i would be sold... take the ipad, add adobe as well as removing all the DRM books, make the screen transparent, and voila! the iSee!
-SPC Roberts
Submitted by SFJackBauer on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 6:00pm
For the people who keep saying car HUDs, glasses etc, this is not the same thing.
To have a workable HUD / glass overlay you need to have collimated displays, otherwise your eyes either focus at the HUD info or at the objects behind it, but not both at the same time. Besides HUDs have been in planes for decades, and they can be installed easily on cars, but I assume that for safety measures this practice is not widespread.
Submitted by Stinky Fartface on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:09pm
The point!?! So you can finally text and drive at the same time. Thank goodness they finally solved that!
The point? How about one
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 12:12pm
The point? How about one step closer to holegraphic displays.
Imagine a window projected into space that you (multi touch) to do everthing, no keyboard, no mouse, no monitor just your base unit and the ports in a convinent wrist watch?
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Submitted by roleki on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 11:01am
I could see definite uses for this technology in the manufacturing environment; a transparent monitor would open up new possibilities in regards to HUD/Interface mounting/orientation, which would allow the end-user to keep their eye on (whatever manufacturing process was happening at the time) and have critical analytics just a glance away. Or for use on tow-motors/heavy equipment, allowing more practical data to be at-hand without taking the operator's eyes off their path of travel.
As for the people that think the technology would be too distracting to use safely on motorcycles/bikes/sunglasses or whatever... the dashboard in their car, the headline ticker at the bottom of every newscast and the scoreline on ESPN all must vex the living shit out of them.
Submitted by ushim6 on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 9:06am
Maybe not for main laptop screens, but tablets, etc.
From what I understand one big issue with touch-screens is that your precision is much lower than i could be, because you finger is blocking your view, etc. What you would do is instead be able to manipulate the screen from the back, so you wouldn't block what was going on on the screen. I know researchers that have been working on this to make a much more usable touch-screen interface.
If there was a way to change the opacity obviously it would be the best, so when you want to do regular reading you just make it solid.
Of course there are also other things you could do, as mentioned before me. Real life HUDs, glasses, contacts(?), etc.
Submitted by _Jono_ on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 2:39am
Wow imagine this tech in goggles or in sunglasses. I could see the speed I'm traveling downhill, or overlay a trail map if I got lost. You could use them in telescopes to help ameteurs locate planets and specific stars. As far as having the tech in a laptop, I like the idea of seeing more around me and feeling less tunnel-visioned. As far as privacy is concerned, all you would really need is to make some sort of opaque backplate of plain black or interesting designs that you could just slide behind the screen and voila! problem solved. Now I don't think it's the fact that its clear that would make this so expensive but instead that it uses OLED. This could become affordable rather quickly the faster people adopt it.
Submitted by snapple00 on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 7:52am
Wow. I wish I could know how fast I was going down hill. I wish it half way blurred out my vision with the number also.
And forget maps, I need a map overlay in my glasses that I can use. I'll be screwed when it gets dark, but hey, its helping!!
When technology replaces things we are already doing, and doing it worse, these are called fads. Like the iPad.
Submitted by mesiah on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 11:23pm
Damn, who pissed in your cheerios? The OP is absolutely right. Being able to see trail maps while skiing, or overlays in a telescope would be a great use. Just because you are too narrowminded to see innovation doesn't mean it has no place. If you are going to be a douchebag, atleast come up with a half decent argument.
ZING! -= I don't want
Submitted by Caboose on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 7:15am
ZING!
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
Black is zero color, than
Submitted by filip007 on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 2:15am
Black is zero color, than this screen is using black as transparent color.
That will make some sense of this display and you don't need wallpaper any more.
I'm right or not ?
Submitted by Tentacle on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 4:09pm
As a couple posters have already mentioned, augmented reality would be a real practical application. No limitation on background resolution, just the overlay.
Looks annoying
Submitted by To0nces on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 3:12pm
It's a neat piece of technology, but having a transparent screen seems like that would be really annoying. Especially for extended periods of use.
Does it improve usability?
Submitted by JohnP on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 1:33pm
This is truly the main point. Does it add to user experience or is it just a WOW factor? Sitting on my desktop by myself, I would love to have my screen show me all the wires, dust bunnies, and my UPS power module glazing through this crystal ball. If I was working at the front desk at the visitor center, I would able to show the visiting executives what I was watching on e-Bay when they walked through the door. Or perhaps they could read confidential company material backwards while I am working on it. Now THAT is useful!
An example, my son and I worked on a clear glass whiteboard that I published in Instructables:
http://www.instructables.com/id/A_glass_whiteboard/
It was so cool! but eventually my son painted the back of the glass white and now it simply works much better. More contrast. It will come down to the same thing here. For a laptop, no way. For a specialized app, depends. For now, no thanks.
Submitted by edorsi on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 12:59pm
To everyone who asks "whats the point?" there are quite a few uses for this technology:
1. Motor vehicle heads up displays
2. Tracing images to physical media
3. Augmented reality in general
The one thing I want to see is the ability to turn the back of the screen opaque (similar to those electrically charged glass blinds) on command. Bonus points of they can adjust the opacity per pixel at greater than 1 bit precision.
wow !!
Submitted by logicmaster2003 on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 11:18am
wow !! that is just brilliant !! imagine running linux kde4 .xx + transparent windows on top of this transparent screen !
Talking about linux KDE 4.xx, I find transparent windows very very ideal - for example, I have a webpage with step-by-step procedure, then I fire up Konsole Terminal to type in commands. I simply put this 50% transparent Termninal on top of the webpage !
Similar to the above, people can have their books and homeworks / paperworks laying on the table directly behind the transparent laptop screen and do the same :)
this is just so brilliant :)
Submitted by vash2695 on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 9:22am
whats the point? well for one, augmented reality will likely get a huge boost from this, dashboards for all kinds of vehicles, the uses are endless. as long as the cost is low, this will probably be everywhere
Submitted by CloudRider on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 8:51am
Easy. HUD's for motorcycle helmets.
Submitted by Caboose on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 11:35am
Not just for motorcycles. Aircraft and cars too!
Anything really where having onscreen information plus the ability to see through said screen.
Onboard computer with glasses display anyone?
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
I don't know if I want to
Submitted by Danduhman on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 8:11am
I don't know if I want to see what some people are looking at on their laptops
Or doing behind the
Submitted by gendoikari1 on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 2:03pm
Or doing behind the screen.
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Submitted by Caboose on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 11:34am
EWWWWWWWWWW!
Pass the brain bleach please!
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
huh?
Submitted by K0BALT on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 8:03am
i still don't understand. i dont see ANY benefits from this. ya its new but still.... why would you want the crap in the backround to show through? also.....again....... whats the point.
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It seems to me that this
Submitted by Tekzel on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 7:50am
It seems to me that this would make for a pretty cool 3D display, especially if they are able to make it completely transparent.
This is the worst idea i've
Submitted by dankers on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 6:55am
This is the worst idea i've ever seen. i still want one though.
Submitted by neddd on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 6:16am
Yet more products looking for a market.
Take a minute to work on bettering the lives of others instead of wasting time and resources on crap.
Submitted by rook on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 3:46am
Is it glossy as well? This will definately improve readability for sure.
Submitted by Erenox on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 2:53am
This is a moment that I have been waiting for, finally we are ushered to the technology often depicted in Sci-Fi movies. From Star Wars to Iron Man, this technology has always been one of the main staples of futuristic fantasy. While the real applications are many, the main thing is the look. Finally, we can have Windows in windows.
Submitted by K0BALT on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 2:36am
whats the point?
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i7 920@4.4GHz,Heatkiller 3.0, (2X)GTX295 Quad-SLI, EVGA X58 3X SLI, 6GB DDR3 OCZ Gold
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 10:37am
Point?
Watch any Sci-fi movie.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
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