Sharp's triple veil-view LCD

What's better than a dual, veil-view LCD? Why a triple veil-view of course! Sharp engineers have managed to control the angle of visibility using the ol' parallax barrier used in 3D displays. The resulting panel is perfect for those times when you need to get some work done on the computer but your toddler is clamoring to watch the latest download of CSI. Or mount the LCD in the car allowing you to navigate GPS maps while the family chills with a film... or freakin' puppies and plants, whatever just as long as they shut the hell up. No idea where or when these might be available, Sharp's apparently just being a little boastful about their accomplishment. Proud you should be Sharp, now come, we've got a cookie for ya.

[Via Impress]

[disciple83 @ Sep 27th 2006 9:17AM]

my question is how will that affect sound? You could have TV on one veil, and a video game on the other, yet I am fairly sure Dr. Phil doesn't sound like BF2, Jerry Springer maybe...

[TheChaz @ Sep 27th 2006 9:23AM]

I wonder what this does to refresh time. Not understanding the process by which this works, I would think that with 3 images going, you might lose 1/3 of the cycles for each one. So a display that normally refreshes at 60Hz would be getting 20, effectively. Anyone know?

[Kansei @ Sep 27th 2006 9:43AM]

I was wondering about this myself, so I dug a little and found this from the wikipedia article on "refresh rate"

"When LCD shutter glasses are used for stereo displays, the effective refresh rate is halved, because each eye needs a separate picture. For this reason, it is usually recommended to use a display capable of at least 120 Hz, but 170 Hz is optimal. Unfortunately most monitors cannot handle this rate, especially if the screen resolution is high."

So yes, the display panel refresh rate would have to be made much higher for each display to have the same "refresh rate".. but refresh rates don't really matter all that much with LCDs. As long as it is over 30hz (so that a 30fps video can be watched) you should be ok.

[Scott @ Sep 27th 2006 9:42AM]

Refresh rate is unchanged. However, the horizontal resolution of each display is reduced to 1/3 of the total. The total resolution of the reference display is 533 x 480 pixels so the resolution of each view is approximately 177x480 pixels.

[Leoedin @ Sep 27th 2006 11:21AM]

That is a totally different thing. That is talking about glasses which cut off one eye, and then the other, and flicker the screen between two different images, to achieve a stereo or 3D effect. It uses an LCD to cut out light from one eye, and then cuts out light from the other.
It is designed for use with CRT monitors - if used with an LCD I believe it will half the response time, but again, thats all about 3D glasses.

This screen is simply displaying the pixels in an odd way so that you see three different images. Think of it like those bumpy cards you get that change when you tilt them, but with LCD pixels. Because you need a pixel for each direction, the resolution of the screen becomes a third of a normal LCD.

So in short - 1/3 resolution, no difference to refresh rate/response time.

Leo

[JW @ Sep 27th 2006 9:45AM]

Tom writes funny. (Don't try so hard buddy)

[Deluxe @ Sep 27th 2006 9:56AM]

I thought the same thing.

[tiuk @ Sep 27th 2006 9:49AM]

Took me longer than it should have to figure out what I was looking at.

[guchdog @ Sep 27th 2006 11:43AM]

OMG! The greatest invention ever! Now I can watch porn without anyone sneaking behind... er... side of me! I hope Sharp makes a revision 2 and supports the behind view and you may got yourself a contender in my book, lol.

[Jake @ Sep 27th 2006 1:33PM]

Um, perhaps this is obvious, but wouldn't the absolute best use of this technology be.... to put the same image on each of the three "displays," thus eliminating side viewing angle issues? You don't have to worry about viewing the front of the pixel from the side... you just get a new pixel as you move across the viewing arch.

[tb @ Dec 30th 2007 11:32PM]

i would use it as 3 screens and move my head from side to side to see all 3 screens in succession

[yes @ Sep 27th 2006 3:31PM]

toddlers watch CSI?

[Cory @ Sep 27th 2006 5:16PM]

So, if this were built as a computer display, I could have a triple monitor setup with just one screen and some mirrors. Granted the displayed image on the angles would have to be reversed so it looked right in the mirrors, but still.

[nand @ Sep 28th 2006 9:42AM]

How about using the central view for reading up on engadget while the wider angles can only see the work you're supposed to be doing? Wouldn't stop anyone looking over your shoulder and noticing your procrastination.

[Angelo @ Jun 5th 2008 6:52AM]

I see its potential in the car as already stated. The wife from her seat can see her programme. The kids in the back seat can see cartoons straight down the middle and the hubby driving can see GPS. Cool!