Apple’s Seeing Screen

 

Group 4

 

Carter Sample, Brandin Neal, Garrett Berry, and Raymond Harris

 

Key Words: LCD, Visual technology, Graphics monitor, Pixels, Integrated Display

 

For our presentation, we have chosen a new hardware device currently being pioneered, which will allow seemingly ordinary LCD screens to function in a sensory capacity, while simultaneously displaying an image.  This integrated sensing display will essentially be the first self-contained device of its kind to have the capability to output and input devices, functioning as both a display and a camera. 

 

Apple is the driving force behind the development of this new hardware technology.  It was invented by Michael Uy of Santa Clara, California. An understanding of the basic workings of a display device is necessary to an understanding of how an integrated sensing display functions.  Normal displays are composed of a display area, containing an array of display elements, each capable of displaying a pixel of information.  However, in an integrated sensing display, each display element can both display and capture information.  This is done by inserting thousands of microscopic image capturing sensors between the liquid crystal display cells that make up the display area of the screen, without interfering with the output functions of the device.

 

This technology is significant because it eliminates the need for a separate camera for many activities, such as video conferencing.  If one looks at the current trend today of tiny electronics, one can see another reason why this technology is important, it allows for a significant reduction in the physical space needed to contain both a camera, and a display device. 

 

This device will have a large and far-reaching effect on both businesses and individuals across the globe.  Any technology that simplifies common activities and processes is embraced in our society, and the integrated sensing display can provide simplicity.  In the area of video-conferencing, it allows the users to communicate face to face without having to buy, set up, or learn how to use a camera.  It also allows for easier eye contact, because now one can simply look into the screen as if it were a window, as opposed to having to stare into a camera lens, which by necessity prevents one from clearly viewing information or images on their own screen.  This is especially important in the business setting, as any good businessman knows the importance of eye-contact.  As mentioned before, this technology will allow electronic devices, such as cell phones or PDAs, to be more compact, as they would no longer have to house a separate camera inside them.  

 

In conclusion, the integrated sensing display is an innovative and novel new hardware invention that promises to improve many existing technologies and make many routine processes and procedures easier and more efficient.

 

References

 

Fox, Barry.   (2006, April)  Invention: Apple's all-seeing screen.  Retrieved September 12, 2006, from http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn9059

 

Wikipedia. Pixels. (2006). . Retrieved September 14, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_network

 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  (2004)  United States Patent Application 20060007222.  Retrieved September 15 , 2006, from http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060007222%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060007222&RS=DN/20060007222

 

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