PureDepth's Multi-Layer Display technology to ship soon

If you're vaguely remembering a mention of MLD, you're not crazy. Around this time last year, PureDepth announced that it was teaming up with Samsung to crank out a 46-inch Multi-Layer Display LCD. Fast forward to now, and we're hearing that the first MLD wares should be hitting the streets relatively soon. The technology itself consists of building displays that are in fact two or more layers of LCD panel that share a common back-light source, thus creating a depth effect when viewing material. As it stands, the outfit has signed agreements with Samsung (obviously) for development of displays in mobile handsets and Sanyo for mobiles, gaming solutions and automotive electronics (including in-car navigation). Interestingly enough, Q1 2008 saw quite the surge in support for the 3D sector, making the launch of MLD that much more applicable to the apparent desires of content viewers. Check out a few sample images and product prototypes in the gallery below.

Gallery: PureDepth's Multi-Layer Display technology to ship soon

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[Jeff @ Apr 28th 2008 5:21PM]

The Ring comes to mind...

[Motoken @ Apr 28th 2008 5:21PM]

i want a video!

[Low Ranked @ Apr 28th 2008 5:23PM]

Watch a video demonstration of a Multi-Layered Display on your single layered LCD monitor.

What a novel idea!

[Motoken @ Apr 28th 2008 5:25PM]

if it is multi layered, then moving the camera side to side will let us see the depth, dur!

[Jordan @ Apr 28th 2008 6:30PM]

Thats almost as useful as HDTV advertisements on a standard tv.

[J.L'A. @ May 14th 2008 3:23AM]

This guy was able to show us his method to have 3D vision! And it's great! Let us view your technology

[J.L'A. @ May 14th 2008 3:34AM]

Sorry....
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

[mike @ Apr 28th 2008 5:22PM]

so this is where the big push for flat screen tv's is ending up, with box's just as big as the ones we payed thousands to replace

[Motoken @ Apr 28th 2008 5:27PM]

yep, but who cares about thinness? (sarcasm, although in truth i dont really care for it much)

[DESTOS @ Apr 28th 2008 6:05PM]

....why can't the TV's screens be as thin as the phone's screens?

Making a thin TV.

[Low Ranked @ Apr 28th 2008 6:21PM]

Because your cellphone's screen doesn't need a built in tuner, inputs, and a 25" lamp.

[decypher44 @ Apr 28th 2008 5:38PM]

Am I really the first person to mention how cool porn should be on this thing?

[Derek @ Apr 28th 2008 6:54PM]

Yes you are, pervert.

[MMalecky @ Apr 28th 2008 7:59PM]

It's kind of a given; porn is usually the first industry to adopt new technology.

VHS, DVD, Streaming Video, Pay-Per-View Services, the friggin' internet in general are all examples of technology that saw some of its first and most widespread application in the porno industry.

[N30 G30 @ Apr 28th 2008 11:16PM]

I thought about it, but I didn't want to be that dude that first mentions it.

[Kurian @ Apr 29th 2008 4:39AM]

AFAIK porn DVDs are the only ones that actually use the multiple video angles DVD supports.

[Christian @ Apr 28th 2008 5:48PM]

I've seen demos of these a while back but they were fatter than this so I'm actually surprised they even have a mobile version.

yes check out the gallery first before you think it's only that fat version

[takamaru @ Apr 28th 2008 10:52PM]

Teach me! Ginpachi Sensei! (in ref to his avatar)

[Labrador @ Apr 28th 2008 5:58PM]

In the past we had fat TVs, now we have thin TVs, and it looks like we will have fat TVs again in the future.

[Labrador @ Apr 28th 2008 6:01PM]

Never mind, Mike said it better.

[Ted @ Apr 28th 2008 6:15PM]

I would personally sacrifice thin-ness for added visual 'depth' in the picture.

The application I'd be most excited about would be games though. Could make WoW or FPS's scarily immersive.

[frankXchange @ Apr 28th 2008 6:38PM]

Okay, but wouldn't the media have to be specially designed for this thing? How would it separate foreground from background on any image? Wouldn't you need a video format that includes depth information (or at least an alpha channel to separate foreground and background), plus a camera to record that information? Is this being aimed at the animation crowd alone, for whom all these things already exist?

[Derek @ Apr 28th 2008 6:53PM]

Yes you are, pervert.

[Derek @ Apr 28th 2008 6:54PM]

Sorry, that was a reply to decypher44.

[fanthem @ Apr 28th 2008 7:09PM]

Derek, that was pretty funny. Had to mark you up for that. It was so random and seemed like such a smartass response to frankXchange. Hahaha.

[ethana2 @ Apr 28th 2008 7:33PM]

Mac user talking to himself in engadget comments:
"Yes you are, pervert."
*sigh*

Engadget, do fix your comment engine, it still seems a bit... off.

[xB Owner @ Apr 28th 2008 7:56PM]

You think that it might be just a bit late to be bringing this technology to the public? Thicker LCD displays when we've already been shown credit card thin OLED displays with better picture? They might have a winner if they can apply the design concept to OLED technology. Otherwise, they might as well be displaying "advanced" CRT technology.

[Martin @ Apr 28th 2008 8:38PM]

There is a limitation that they are glossing over and that is that the colors from the two panels will be blended together using subtractive blending, most of the demos I've seen seem to be dark foreground images on a light background, the reverse is impossible with this system I think. You couldn't display anyone on the front screen if the rear screen was completely black and anything on the front screen will be effected by whats behind it.

[Connor @ Apr 28th 2008 9:44PM]

Finally, a TV that comes with a frightening ghost that reaches at you through the screen... Crossing my fingers for Christmas!

[LarryLarryLarry @ Apr 28th 2008 10:06PM]

What's the widest possible angle you can move through and still the the 3D image? 20 degrees? 30? Anything beyond that and the sides of the box get in the way.

You can move the back display forward to improve the viewing angle, but why not just have ONE display and use software to compute the foreground layer and background layer? Like we do right now...

Every other 3D technology I have ever seen is more promising than this monstrosity. Yes, that includes cardboard spectacles with a red lens and a green lens.

[Alex @ Apr 28th 2008 10:44PM]

This technology will never make it.

It's too thick, and multi layer will not look anywhere near as good as a true stereoscopic screens.

It will look more like a 2D hologram gone wrong.

[Yevon @ Apr 28th 2008 11:32PM]

Honestly, I would rather have a nice thin OLED with head tracking. That Wii mod with that goofy hat would be better than this bulky thing. I wounder if filming could be done to suit head tracking...

[Eric @ Apr 29th 2008 7:38AM]

Seems like a business plan to sell twice as many displays. I can't believe none of you said this already. Depth perception with such a setup will be minimal if you keep the appearance of the thing anywhere near socially acceptable.

[Bryan Johnson @ Apr 29th 2008 11:38AM]

I think this technology could be great for specialized purposes. Think if Microsoft designed Surface around this technology.

[Brian @ Apr 29th 2008 1:15PM]

If she want to reach out and touch me, I'm fine with that.

[Zhi Lee @ Apr 29th 2008 7:11PM]

This technology rocks! I'm going to buy two of them!!