Log in

View Full Version : Holo-Projector... And What Else?


Darius Wey
12-26-2004, 06:00 PM
<i>"Scientists have developed a holographic laser projector that is significantly more efficient than today's models and could be incorporated into handheld devices - allowing you, for instance, to project snaps from a phonecam onto a wall. It could also be used to replace the screen on a notebook or PDA."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20041227-Future.jpg" /><br /><br />Imagine the day when your Pocket PC projects a holographic image of Princess Leia saying, "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope!". The holographic projection principle has lingered around for many years but only recently has it been translated into a working product. You can read a little more about it <a href="http://www.vnunet.com/news/1160225">here</a>. Since we're only a few days from commencing a new year, I thought it would be great to ask what you would like to see in a Pocket PC in 2005 (and beyond)! Holo-projectors? Self-recharging batteries? A mobile GeForce 6800? Okay, a couple of those may seem a little farfetched at the moment, but imagination is the key to innovation, isn't it? Anyway. let us know your thoughts! We'd like to hear them. ;-)

surur
12-26-2004, 06:32 PM
Self-recharging batteries? A mobile GeForce 6800? Okay, a couple of those may seem a little farfetched at the moment, but imagination is the key to innovation, isn't it? Anyway. let us know your thoughts! We'd like to hear them. ;-)

mm... thats an idea. How about a self-recharging battery, like you have a self-winding watch. The more you walk with your device, the better the charge.

Is it too late to patent this.... :)

Surur

ricksfiona
12-26-2004, 06:35 PM
The i-Mate Jam Mini is close to perfect, but it's size has tradeoffs.

Expandable displays. It probably would be justified on anything but a power-user device, but data-entry on a screen that's 2.8" could be a little difficult.

Techtoys
12-26-2004, 07:05 PM
:) A roll-out A4 screen or projector + large area input device, 1GB standard RAM, a wizzy graphics card for games, a more proactive PDA function (one that realises my car insurance is up, gets me the best quote from all the brokers and just needs me to sign, plus looks out for the best dental insurance, tracks my finances and moves any debt around to minimise interest whilst picking out rocket stocks....),

onto the far fetched stuff - a lifesize holo projector so I can stay at home and send the PDA to work...

and way out there... alarms that work :)

Zack Mahdavi
12-26-2004, 07:27 PM
This is all I want out of my future Pocket PC:

- More stability.
- Alarms that work.

If Microsoft can improve those simple things, I'd be very happy!

bjornkeizers
12-26-2004, 07:55 PM
Definitely the holoprojector, no doubt about it. Since processors and such will advance as well, you could say... put your device on the table, you'd ring your mate, and when he picks up, there's a tiny little man, walking across your table and talking to you.

Also, you could create awesome 3D interfaces with it.. Imagine being *inside* your explorer; or with pictures or video bits flying around your head... it'd be a whole new approach to interface design!

I can hardly wait.

ctmagnus
12-26-2004, 10:57 PM
I just want stability. I, for the most part, haven't had issues with alarms or anything else (except hwr). The few cases where there've been problems were due to OS instability at those particular points in time.

maximus
12-27-2004, 01:10 AM
A more efficient mobile processor and touch screen, so a regular battery can last a week ...

David Johnston
12-27-2004, 01:21 AM
Self-recharging batteries? A mobile GeForce 6800? Okay, a couple of those may seem a little farfetched at the moment

Erm, hello? ATI are way ahead! See where they were a few months ago!
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=286540#286540

I'd really love some way to get my device to work with everything - just place it next/near the target device and voila! It connects and works. Keyboards, monitors, TVs, microwaves, toilets...

ctmagnus
12-27-2004, 01:30 AM
I'd really love some way to get my device to work with everything - just place it next/near the target device and voila! It connects and works. ...toilets...

This could be useful in conjunction with Microsoft Voice Command and public toilets. You'd never have to touch the flusher again!

Typhoon
12-27-2004, 01:51 AM
self-recharging batteries has to be the biggest and best technology anyone could ever have on a PDA...I think.

Darius Wey
12-27-2004, 03:06 AM
mm... thats an idea. How about a self-recharging battery, like you have a self-winding watch. The more you walk with your device, the better the charge.

I think they call them kinetic watches. Not a bad idea, actually. ;)

Darius Wey
12-27-2004, 03:11 AM
Erm, hello? ATI are way ahead! See where they were a few months ago!
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=286540#286540

Don't worry. I noticed that when you posted about it in September. ;)

However, I was after something a little more mobile... And of course, we'd also need to wait for the new OS to unleash a little more of this D3DM power that I've been so crazily lusting for. :P

SoAlive
12-27-2004, 04:16 AM
What about a built-in text scanner? Instead of using a C Pen to scan and then send text via IR, you could run your PPC over the material and edit it in Word, etc.

Might not be practical for most, but I've had many instances where I've wished for this.

Of course, a built-in electric razor would be cool, too. :wink:

Darius Wey
12-27-2004, 04:22 AM
Of course, a built-in electric razor would be cool, too. :wink:

I couldn't fathom the thought of hairs building up in my card slots. :P

Typhoon
12-27-2004, 06:46 AM
How about a live talking Faith Hill hologram that works like a PDA and an entertainer =) ?

beq
12-27-2004, 10:08 AM
Self-recharging batteries?

mm... thats an idea. How about a self-recharging battery, like you have a self-winding watch. The more you walk with your device, the better the charge.

That would be cool, encourages you to exercise (or otherwise make lots of motion) as a means to recharge :mrgreen:

Or how about wireless recharging (which can replace power cables such as the AC cord or USB charging cables)? You know like those air cleaning gadgets they're always selling that ionize the air, or spew out ozone or whatnot. Something that would charge the air, then your PDA has something with opposite polarity that absorbs the charge and converts into stored energy. OK yeah so it's complete trekkie mumbo-jumbo...

But a revolutionary breakthrough in solar or wind power would be cool...

Or a battery that can continually recharge itself with just exposure to air each time (as you can tell I got the idea from those zinc-air batteries)...

P.S. Hi Darius, I just noticed that you're a (new?) editor here, I must've missed the announcement. I'm trying to guess what your previous handle might be :D

Darius Wey
12-28-2004, 03:48 AM
P.S. Hi Darius, I just noticed that you're a (new?) editor here, I must've missed the announcement. I'm trying to guess what your previous handle might be :D

Here's the announcement, (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33963) and another one. (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34016) :)

I think my previous handle will just pop out at you. ;)

Darius Wey
12-28-2004, 03:50 AM
Or how about wireless recharging (which can replace power cables such as the AC cord or USB charging cables)?

I've had that thought before, but the thought of high voltages flying across the room didn't excite me too much. :P

Darius Wey
12-28-2004, 04:14 AM
Back on the topic of holo-projectors, here's (http://www.lightblueoptics.com/) another link which discusses the concept.

Typhoon
12-28-2004, 04:19 AM
Back on the topic of holo-projectors, here's (http://www.lightblueoptics.com/) another link which discusses the concept.

Any ideas if it will work on windows? For example, project it on a windshield while you are in a car?

maximus
12-28-2004, 06:45 AM
Any ideas if it will work on windows? For example, project it on a windshield while you are in a car?

I thought we have that already on the latest model of BMW 6 series ?

Typhoon
12-28-2004, 07:49 AM
Any ideas if it will work on windows? For example, project it on a windshield while you are in a car?

I thought we have that already on the latest model of BMW 6 series ?

wow, I didn't know that. Too expensive though.

Rudolf
12-29-2004, 11:33 AM
I'd like to have a battery which taps the Zero Point Field, extracting the energy directly from the vacuum. Now that would be cool, and you would never need a charger again 8O . As a side effect this would make space travel a lot easier too :lol: ...

Typhoon
12-29-2004, 01:59 PM
I'd like to have a battery which taps the Zero Point Field, extracting the energy directly from the vacuum. Now that would be cool, and you would never need a charger again 8O . As a side effect this would make space travel a lot easier too :lol: ...

LOL I don't know when that will ever come out. Besides, that would get other energy companies to make sure that technology never makes it to any industry (i.e.: oil industry...).

Rudolf
12-30-2004, 12:50 PM
I'd like to have a battery which taps the Zero Point Field, extracting the energy directly from the vacuum. Now that would be cool, and you would never need a charger again 8O . As a side effect this would make space travel a lot easier too :lol: ...

LOL I don't know when that will ever come out. Besides, that would get other energy companies to make sure that technology never makes it to any industry (i.e.: oil industry...).
Sure enough. But thinking about it again... We are still not mature enough to use such a potential, so I'd rather go and charge regularly.

It's still nice to now, that theroretically it is possible (and was already done on a very low scale).

BTW have anybody noticed that the article hints that this is somehow related to 3D projection??? (with princess Leia and R2D2). However this is not about 3D projection, buth rather a different method to project 2D images to the WALL (without using lenses or other optics) (But yes, it is using similar ideas like the good old hologram)

Typhoon
12-30-2004, 01:19 PM
Then there is the possible use of use 3D holograms to bring out a new kind of movie theater? ---- While all the guests are talking in the living room of a mansion, someone is being descretely murdered in a distant room which is being played out right in aisle between the seats of the theater audience. Pretty scary and realistic... Imagine sitting in a seat where it DOES look like someone is being murdered right next to you while eating popcorn...and the victim screams in agony and tries to climb or grab hold of the dresser which just might be the exact seat you are sitting in. Hollywood would be taken to a whole new level. More thrill driven movies would be realised to use the technology. I couldn't imagine chick-flick/romantic-movies being made for this technology, though.

I remember hearing an example like this in a Film Art class back in 2000 in college.

I guess in this type of technology, the screen wouldn't be projected horizontally but vertically?

Forget about getting HDTV for your living room and get the new holographic projector that displays the next Terminator sequal "Live" in your room.

Len M.
12-31-2004, 09:03 PM
Here are a few suggestions:

1. Two microphone instead of one, or at the least, a jack for two microphones. PocketPCs are capable of recording at CD quality (two channels of 16-bit/44.1 KS/s) but no one's built a PDA with the ability to use two microphones.

(Our PDAudio system does the job for very high-res recording -- up to 24-bit/192 KS/s -- but there's no reason why simple 16/44.1 couldn't be built into the PDA as it comes from the factory.)

2. Add the capability for the PDA's CPU to use DMA (direct memory access, like desktop and laptop PCs) to get data to and from the the memory card slots and USB without completely eating up the CPU's computation capacity.

3. Come up with an industry-standard cradle interface. We have HP, Dell, Casio and other PDAs -- each one has a different connector!

4. Upgrade the PocketPC internal audio playback chips to 24/96.

5. Put the headphone jack where CF card and SDIO card cabling won't get in its way. The HP iPAQ5000-series has it right; the h2000-series and Dell X50-series don't.

6. If you're going to provide an expanded battery pack, make sure that its back surface is flat. Have you ever laid your PDA down on the table and tried to use when all it wants to do is lean over or rock back and forth?

7. Follow Toshiba's lead and provide a USB *host* interface. Then encourage accessory manufacturers and third-party software developers to develop drivers for common accessories.

8. Make sure that your USB interface is USB 2.0. How, at this point, can a PDA manufacturer justify only providing USB 1.1?

That's enough for now...

Len Moskowitz
Core Sound
www.core-sound.com
Home of PDAudio