See-through LCD screen developed

Tokyo-based optical component maker Active Inc. has developed a new composite LCD display that allows a user to clearly see objects through the monitor's viewing surface. The company has been researching the use of liquid crystal optical film as a substitute for traditional LCD backlights with the goal of commercializing a display which allows a user's gaze to pass through to the opposite side when the screen is powered on. The company is hoping to market the screens to the amusement industry, where they will be used for activities such as watching your family while watching a movie, watching a movie while another movie plays in the distance, and of course playing a video game while watching a movie. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

[Aaron @ Jun 29th 2007 2:30AM]

Watching a movie while another movie plays in the distance? Huh? Why?

[Deluxe @ Jun 29th 2007 2:56AM]

You're not thinking like an innovator! Because you CAN!

[Aaron @ Jun 29th 2007 4:27AM]

Haha, right, my bad...

[Pedro @ Jun 29th 2007 5:49AM]

Vision augmentation! Put it on a pair of glasses and bam! Instant Heads Up Display. Now I can really see my health, armor, ammo and stamina without having to pretend. Woo!

[def six @ Jun 29th 2007 3:11AM]

Does this now mean that anyone can take those cool pictures of see through monitors ? http://www.flickr.com/photos/arbron/8169892/in/pool-transparentscreens/

[Mike @ Jun 29th 2007 3:25AM]

Umm not to burst there bubble but all LCD screens can easily be made transparent! Take out the backlight and bam see through display. As long as there is some light whether its ambient, ccfl, led, fed or plasmas the LCD is viewable. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that makes this original. I mean a display tech mentioned a few weeks ago from pure depth stacks two lcds behind one backlight to make 3d images. If the front LCD was not "see through" this would never work. I work on backlights for LCDs and I know many other people that have worked with LCDs their whole life so believe me when I say this is a press release in search of press, not something new and unique.

[Mike @ Jun 29th 2007 3:27AM]

excuse the typos and I meant pure depth uses two LCDs stacked in front of a backlight, not behind. That would make no sense!

[The Golden Wombat @ Jun 29th 2007 1:53PM]

Well it does sound somewhat original with the liquid crystal optical film, so it lights itself internally, sounds like this'll work even in a dark room.

[EdZ @ Jun 29th 2007 4:58AM]

Yes, you CAN easily remove the backlights to create a translucent LCD (go ask the guys over at Lumenlab, they've been doing it for years to make DIY projectors), but you can't stack them for depth. Why? Polarisation. Once a pixel 'below' has twisted (or untwisted, depending on the orientation of the crystals) the direction of polarisation, all the pixels 'above' that one will also be dark.

[undersaur @ Jun 29th 2007 4:14AM]

How about a HUD?

[indigo80 @ Jun 29th 2007 4:31AM]

Next thing is to remove the screen

[PPrasad @ Jun 29th 2007 4:44AM]

that's crazy... that technology is of not much use to normal people.. i dont find the ideas like watching movies at a distance that innovative.. who would do that ? Its nothing more than some thing different..

[Navin @ Jun 29th 2007 4:54AM]

I want this for my car windshield

[Don @ Jun 29th 2007 3:18PM]

Agreed... this was my initial thought. I'd LOVE to have a car windshield that displayed real-time info; sort of like a full size GPS.

When I was a kid (I'm 35 now), I was obsessed with having a HUD in my car. I thought that it would be neat to have a system that identified hotspots on the roadside to make animal-strikes in remote areas more avoidable, increasing driver safety. I suppose the caddy nightvision came close, but I just wanted something that would tag items with a red circle or something.

With this, such a display could become a reality. I can't wait to have this commonly out there in 10 years or so.

[gezepi @ Jun 29th 2007 5:05AM]

In highschool somebody had taken the back off of their calculator (a cheap one, not scientific) and were able to see through the LCD, it was a pretty cool trick. I think what they are pushing here though is that it won't need a backlight, so you can watch two movies in the dark.

[tiuk @ Jun 29th 2007 10:25AM]

I have a small desk clock (it was a gift, I think from Brookstone) that has a translucent LCD. What the article is talking about is pretty different, though.

[Chris M @ Jun 29th 2007 5:10AM]

I'd definitely be feeling a HUD for my car. Very sweet, speedometer; fuel tank, engine temp- eliminate the dashboard completely- and go for a seamless windshield-to-steering wheel idea.

Chris

[Jack @ Jun 29th 2007 5:14AM]

Great! Now I can watch the wall behind my TV!

[NS2-10 @ Jun 29th 2007 5:17AM]

I can clearly see (no pun intended) the use for this in say a car windshield (as mentioned, a HUD) or something like that. Info for the driver and visibility at the same time. To watch several movies and so on sounds like a ridiculous cover up for the real reason. Who would want to do that anyway??

[GadgetBoy @ Jun 29th 2007 5:51AM]

Finally somewhat who's not so dense. It didn't even occur to me what was possible but since you brought it up. How about adapting it for airplanes or even a soldier's helmet. You can display info and still see the external view. Just a stepping stone for future uses that we haven't even thought of yet.

[Jack @ Jun 29th 2007 6:57AM]

Heh, I suppose its the begining of a Crosscom :)

[ian9outof10 @ Jun 29th 2007 7:05AM]

What a load of total crap, dear God I really think the iPhone is sapping the creativity from the rest of the gadget world.

[dan @ Jun 29th 2007 8:34AM]

a) that is the dumbest photoshop job i have ever seen

b) minority report!

[Nando @ Jun 29th 2007 9:08AM]

"Minority Report" much?

http://homepage.mac.com/caroledanforth/tomcruise/images/media.jpg

[Mike @ Jun 29th 2007 10:51AM]

to Edz,

There is no problem with polarization. I've seen several working demo's of stacked LCDs. And it doesn't take a special type of LCD or anything.

[t-bone @ Jun 29th 2007 11:56AM]

You can use it for a HUD, but those are slowly becoming obsolete. The Joint Strike Fighter doesn't even have one, it is all sent to the helmet.

[David @ Jun 29th 2007 1:55PM]

The obvious next step is to create screens that are completely invisible...that would be SO cool!!!

[macona @ Jun 29th 2007 2:09PM]

Also the problem with using it as a HUD is focus. You eyes have to change focus to see the display or whats behind it. I believe helmet/visor mounted HUDs are optically focused so both are in focus at the same time.

[Don @ Jun 29th 2007 3:21PM]

So are glass-plate huds.

[Camperton @ Jun 29th 2007 5:01PM]

" watching your family while watching a movie, watching a movie while another movie plays in the distance, and of course playing a video game while watching a movie".

That is without a doubt the most ridiculous thing I have ever read.

[Fernando G. @ Jun 30th 2007 12:34AM]

well this changes everything...

[Chuchi @ Jun 30th 2007 10:55AM]

People, this may seem insignificant now, but you have to be imaginative. It's the first step in solving the display-size problem for devices such as notebooks, iPods, PDAs and UMPCs. Granted, it'll only catch on once enough time has passed so they could fit this technology into a pair of glasses that look like a normal pair of glasses. Think of it, though. Your entire PC could be something as small as a handheld keyboard and you'll still have the perspective of a huge screen while seeing the environment behind the lenses. Let's just hope they speed up the development of self-driving cars before people decide to try these out while driving.

[Thijs van Beek @ Jul 5th 2007 5:23AM]

Haha, but just Picture. I can really see this happening. "Eh... everyone, can you please go stand on the lawn? I'm about to watch a movie... Uncle Joe, a bit to the right... Sandy, can you bend over a bit, aah.. thats perfect, ok can you hold it for like 9 hours, I'm about to see lord of the rings triology"