*-- Changing It All - Think Pico. When I first saw this I had a "vision". I think this new projector technical design could change the functionality of virtually every device.

Most everyone with an iPhone realizes the biggest limitation to a more complete enjoyment is a matter of form factor.  The display screen is small.  Argue about the Apps, how great the functionality is, but the bottom line is your watching a screen the size of a pack of cigarettes.

Sure, you can “upgrade” to a larger device with accompanying larger display area, but isn’t the whole idea kinda centered around miniaturization – classic shirt pocket question.

The cell phone by design typically doesn't allow a very large display.  The area covered is typically well under ½ sq ft.; 5 square inches ( 1 1/2" x 3" ) is common.  When your using all those fantastic Apps you really want to see more. That's a motivating factor to trying the App on your Laptop or Desktop. But doesn’t that make you flinch that it can be the same on the phone.

The new advent of pico-projectors can have a significant impact on us all.  I am talking revolutionary.

The name PICO is an attempt to intimate the size. Pico is equal to 1 Trillionth, 10^-12, 0.000,000,000,001.  Not a idea of branding, given the abundance of other descriptive names for projectors already in use: pocket, portable, conference room, large venue, educational are just a few examples.

In the simplest description of application, a small projector is added to a device as a display device similar to that of a standard monitor. Current products available can be 640x480 resolution and higher allowing for up to a 50" display of image.  Maybe the resolution is a little low, but that will predictably improve.

Providing a larger display is a huge functional improvement.  Considering the complete possibilities is almost over-whelming.  Suddenly your "smart phone" becomes greatly more enjoyable.  Expand it to other devices and suddenly everything in the world gets "bigger".   The ramifications of this technology could have significant social impacts too.  This advance could produce architectural changes in everything from coffee shops to libraries.  Plus, if everyone is displaying their activity – what’s to keep another person from watching?

It’s worth it. The idea of having a big-screen TV in my pocket excites me.

With the ability to use a projector for display, the form factor options become wide open.  I can see that virtually every device could be improved.

A new Apple concept developed as iWatch, but not released, is an interesting example of an early attempt coordinating a pico-projector and touchscreen. (cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Apple-iWatch3-150x100.jpg ).

One element that will likely be an issue from the beginning is power.  The electrical requirements for running the projector will increase any battery life requirements. Typically this is reflected by an increased size of the item - bigger container.  In fact, this is the same issue being faced by the automotive manufacturers regarding the adoption of electric autos  -battery requirements. Space requirements are directly related to battery power characteristics. Noteably, they're not cheap either. $20,000 is a typical cost of replacing the “battery-pack”.

The projector idea can be supported on virtually any platform.  No need for that 20" plasma monitor anymore.

Taken to the extreme a combination of projector for display and a virtual projection keyboard could nearly eliminate the entire desktop footprint.

  5 simple elements: Camera, Microphone, Emitter, Projector, WiFi

Below is a simple mock-up of a device that incorporates the existing technologies into a productive device:

The top portion of the device turns to allow the projector to display in different directions, 270°.  The middle section allows the camera to move to capture the preferred User’s image.  Followed by the emitter for the virtual keyboard projection towards “the front”.

CONSIDER AND 

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK 

Current Projection Keyboard Productss  (virtual)

            http://www.virtualdevices.net/

            http://www.vkb.co.il/

            http://www.canesta.com/

            http://www.senseboard.com/

Samsung, Galaxy Beam - Android-based smartphone with pico-Projector.

- 3.7-inch Super-AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), an 8-megapixel camera and can be used as a wireless access point. 

- standard communications features: Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, wireless Internet tethering, a USB 2.0 port, and GPS plus, as a bonus, TV out and an FM radio. Weight = 155 grams.

Samsung SP-H03 – weak entry into projector product line; too bulky.