Reach out and touch screens
2nd Nov 2009
Touch screen mobile devices have become the norm these days - handsets such as Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Omnia HD take full advantage of such technology to brilliant effect. But what's next? Well, in line with what a lot of film studios and cinemas are now offering it looks as though things are going to go 3D.
I've been very interested to read about 3M's new Vikuiti display technology, which will create three-dimensional experiences on devices with displays of up to nine inches without the use of special glasses. It cleverly makes use of a column of LEDs on each side of the screen, one for the left eye and one for the right. The columns light up dependent upon which eye the image is intended for, and a series of mirrors and prisms then direct the image toward that eye. The end result is that each eye then sees a slightly different image and the brain is tricked into interpreting the picture as 3D. Because all the light distortion is done behind the LCD front panel the image stays as sharp as that produced by a conventional two dimensional display.
Clever stuff. But what does it mean for the consumer? Well, imagine mobile entertainment devices such as Sony's PSP Go with in game characters that jump out toward you while you play. Many films are already available in 3D too - I recently saw Disney-Pixar's Up in 3D and found the added dimension even more engaging. I also gather that Sky are currently looking at 3D technologies which may add sporting events to the roster and devices from Fujifilm already allow users to take and display 3D photographs. Software applications can get smarter too - satellite navigation that can display contours in 3D could prove pretty handy.
The technology is already proven and it may not be long before we start to see it integrated into mobile devices. Exciting stuff - just please don't use it to poke me on Facebook.
Published by
Colin Hayward, Systems Development Manager
colin.hayward@creationagency.com, 07736 836473
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