Smart video projectors do away with screens
By Simon Spagnoletti 
posted Aug 12th 2004 2:29PM
posted Aug 12th 2004 2:29PM
You know how you have all those walls in your apartment, but none of them are large enough, smooth enough, or white
enough to use as a projector screen? Well there are these new smart projectors that use camera feedback and special
projection techniques to automatically calibrate themselves to look good on any surface, no matter how rough. Sure,
you're not going to get HDTV quality images (though the images do look fairly good) but you'll be able to
project cute cartoons on pretty much anything, including those sinfully ugly curtains you keep meaning to replace,
which is certainly a step forward. Just be careful watching your "home movies" on those street-facing windows.
But if you really think about it for more than the first 5 seconds it takes to think "wow thats cool" you would then realize that it has to warp the image to make it look good on the noneven surface. Which means if you arn't sitting directly in front of or behind the projector the image will look warped an uneven. Still a great idea just not perfect for a room full of people.
I can see (maybe) the point for exhibitions or displays, but for home projection? At what cost? I just finished installing an in-ceiling projector screen in my family room so I can now project a 92"-wide (112" diagonal) picture - and yes, I can do HDTV or progressive scan DVD, and upgrade the projector when I need to. Total cost, including labor, $2000 - compare that to any other comparably large display. And it would be a lot cheaper if you did a smaller screen, a non-motorized screen, or a surface-mounted (instead of recessed) screen.