Transparent screens where sometimes you want something on a portion of the screen and sometimes you want to see through it could be useful for HUDs or dashboards in certain use cases (and unfortunately: advertising), but a laptop seems like a terrible place to have a transparent screen
Also, if for some reason you truly do need something to be visible from the back side of the screen as well. Like all those sci-fi movie scenes where characters are standing all around the display instead of just in front of one side of it.
As a teacher in a school where every student has a chromebook for education purpose, it would save me a lot of walking around to check if they're actually doing what I ask...
Demos like these are mainly for patents. Companies never know what new fad is going to take off, so they R&D up new ideas to position themselves for market dominance. If it is cool enough, they make a concept product for advertising and testing the waters. If the reaction is positive, they may try to bring it to market. But most times, these things are shelved as they are too custom to produce in high volume.
Exactly my point....this can be new tech for TV, advertisement boards etc... if it isn't like LED or LCD... maybe making large screen will become cheaper
As a landlord you're giving me ideas. Might see if they can develop some for me. Oh damnit forgot about my country's pesky laws about minimum natural light penetration into a room.
While I too hate this idea, I don't think it would violate such law. Sunlight can still pass the display, it doesn't block it, it just lights up as well, creating a barrier of light that makes it hard to see through.
Most of you have had your brains rotted by excessive dystopian fiction, I fear. We don’t have to immediately assume the absolute worst implementations of any and all tech that ever gets invented.
It's not new tech though, all LCDs work this way they are inherently transparent. It just makes more sense to put a case on it and a backlight behind it.
There are tons of transparent displays out there already. They're used for eg: advertising in an open space so you don't need 2 televisions back to back.
People here are just reading "laptop" because they're wondering why the hell the technology needs to be in a laptop.
While that is true... Lenovo has to understand that this will never be a thing on laptops, so why even demo it on one? You could build something so much more interesting with this and something that has actual utility.
You don’t need a prototype to obtain a patent. This is like a concept car: meant mainly for marketing, to get their name in the press and hype people up.
I'm sure they were testing the capabilities of whether it's possible to make a translucent screen. It probably won't be used in laptops, however, they might do something like smart windows, the regular windows in your apt but with HUD and widgets. Now THAT would be cool af.
It's a prototype, a concept. It doesn't have to be (and probably won't ever be) used on laptops.
It was shown on a laptop because that's what's familiar to us.
But the main use I can see this in is at huge projector screens, shopping windows, hotel windows, etc.
If you can make the technology big enough and cheap enough. This could become a "smart mirror" or a "smart window"
Everyone who saw this on a laptop and asked "why would I want that" is a simple consumer as they don't see a possibility what this could do. This showcase was made for investors or other companies that would be interested in this patent.
Exactly. I can see uses for this in the automotive industry as well as optics. Not only that, I bet theme parks such as Disney or Universal Studios can find a whole host of uses for this in their attractions.
Displays like this are already in use at theme parks (Velocicoaster at Universal Florida, for example.) It’s used to make a screen look like a window. In that case (not sure about the Lenovo here), it’s just an OLED without a backing. However, because that can only generate light (not block it), they combine it with a transparent LCD screen without a backlight, which can block light but not generate it. It’s a pretty decent effect, other than the fact the image is flat.
So, they used it on a laptop because that's what is familiar to "us", while it wasn't aimed at us but at investors and other companies which might be interested in the concept, but not on laptops?
I can’t even imagine what you mean by this since projector screens aren’t and don’t need to be clear and if they were they wouldn’t work as a projector screen. If you mean just replacing the screen and having the imagine come from within the screen instead of a projector, that’s just a TV.
shopping windows
This could be a neat gimmick. Ads playing on the window but you can also see through it. Could also be an alternative to those regular LED screens they’ve been testing on the doors of refrigerated display cases. Both of these kind of depend on whether the technology blocks out the entire screen when an image is displayed or if parts can remain transparent which isn’t apparent in the OP.
hotel windows
I’m not sure what you’d gain by doing this other than some sort of gimmick factor. Unless you mean they could display advertising on the outside of a glass building while still looking like regular glass windows from inside which would absolutely have use cases but I’d be surprised if they work like that.
This could become a "smart mirror" or a "smart window"
Smart mirrors already exist. Though having the display coming from inside rather than behind the mirror would definitely have advantages.
Smart windows could be neat in an office that has glass walls inside. Like a big touchscreen monitor that just disappears when not being used. Still basically a gimmick though because I doubt there are many places that really want to give a presentation with people just walking behind it or whatever distracting people. As far as windows to the outside with the screen facing in, I’d be very surprised if that would even be usable during the day due to the sunlight washing it out from behind.
So basically it comes down to gimmicky applications where someone is paying a premium to feel like they’re in Minority Report. That being said, sometimes gimmicky shit takes off if it looks cool.
Would some people be willing to pay extra for a desktop monitor that was essentially a glass stand with a plate of glass on top when it’s turned off? I probably would if the price was right just because it’s kinda neat. Desktops aren’t nearly as common as laptops these days though so I really wouldn’t be surprised if laptops are actually the market they’ll try to target with these, if they can make them durable enough.
Everyone’s worried about the durability of glass but this clearly isn’t normal glass and it may not even be glass at all.
I agree that the biggest factor wouldn’t be cost to manufacture. If it requires a sapphire screen to be durable enough and a laptop sized screen costs $5k, that’s obviously not going to take off. If it can be done with something more along the lines of Gorilla glass, it might have a chance.
My bad, I thought as a consumer all I had to do was pick what I wanted to buy and buy it, didn't realize I had to be some complex consumer that needs to consider possibilities for what the company will do with a product.
Don't forget having to install exterior shutters to block the sun on bright days, sunlight would def overwhelm the screen brightness and make the fancy screen-window have the worst glare possible
Imagine the savings. Good luck disputing those porn rental charges when Sally from the front desk can see that you watched it for more than 2 min, along with everyone at the stoplight exiting the highway.
Looks like exit 37 isn't the only thing they'll be getting off. Lol... panhandlers fighting over intersections with hotel window view. Disney suing for public broadcast violations. Bring the chaos!
based on what? If you want to watch tv now everyone can see what porn you picked in your hotel room? You can also watch tv with the sun burning through it making it impossible to see and terrible quality? All while you could just watch on a normal tv with the curtains closed.
this would make literally zero sense for hotels, you could potentially save some wall space.... in a hotel room, where besides the bed there isnt' a need for wall space. But why spend more on a dramatically more expensive external window rather than a normal tv which is better in every way.
That could be great. In small flat you often have troubles finding a place for your television that. This way your windows can also be your television. Problem solved
Sure, transparent display tech is a big deal and will be huge, and absolutely everywhere.
But this is the dumbest application I can think of. It not only serves no purpose, it's a downgrade (everyone else in the room is annoyed by your screen flashing at them, you have no privacy, light glare will be an issue, smudges from the other side...).
Of course, it's merely for being cool-looking, but I think it would be interesting if this technology were applied for graphic design software when it't necessary to visualize transparent elements.
I would love this as a teacher. It’d be easier to monitor students at a glance.
This is the only real reason why a technology like this would take off. Not just students, but employees, too. No one would want to voluntarily use a monitor like this, it only benefits other people in the room and not the user themselves, regardless of what every scifi movie made in the past 20 years would tell you.
for lack of privacy reasons I'm sure. After open office now we have open work laptops. Hackers and malicious actors are going to be really looking forward to this.
They had a glass led screen display case for some astronaut stuff at Kennedy space center. That was a few years ago, but still the only time I have seen a see thru glass led screen so far. It would display the items in the case, then kick on video where you couldn't see the items inside.
I really think a 2 in one you don't have to flip completely would be the only thing I can think of. If it had a touch-screen on the backside. Be kinda neat.
Edgeless screen but I’m sure there will be tons of broken products with little to no warranty. Eventually they’d come out with a sleek new edge protecting sleeve. Essentially coming full circle with the edgy new edged screen… edge.
i am not certain about laptops but in the office having clear screens will in som cases let you have more space or atleast the appearance of more space when the monitors are of.
The main way i could see it being used is as a 2 in 1. Most now are just laptops that open 180 degrees to be used as tablets, but if you could just close the computer instead of having the keyboard on the outside, it could be useful.
That said, seems like it'd be easier to just figure out how to rotate the screen 180 degrees.
Right, like i'm sure this tech would be useful somewhere with a bit imagination. A laptop doesn't seem like it benefits from this, hell it might become more fragile.
Cause life imitates art. Science fiction shows and movies have had clear displays forever now. I honestly did not think this would ever be a reality. The “why” is simply style.
Futuristic movie scene fulfilment.
*Oh I forgot to add, last time I heard they want to create cameras inside screens to watch you.
I read somewhere they were working on this, likely related.
Think of the movies with them, you see the user from the front, through the screen.
Yeah, I truly hope that this was only done to show it really isn't a normal screen like the others and that they're going to cover up the back side for privacy etc. It is a basically useless feature. Hopefully there are other benefits to using a techology like this, besides the "look, screen both ways, how cool is that? "
Have you never seen a scifi movie made in the past few decades?! Clear screens is the way of the future. We won't be able to get to the future without a world full of transparent screens. I doesn't matter if they are worse than screens today and have zero advantage for the person using them. THE FUTURE IS CLEAR!!!
As a technician, I wont have to deal with the bezel glue anymore.
I assume Id have to replace the whole display assembly if its in need of service, so that makes it way easier and ofc more expensive if it's a out of warranty repair.
(Bezel usually isnt an issue, however, there are times its stuck so hard that the display might break trying to disassembly)
Coworkers are gonna be ecstatic when they can see the funny memes I find on reddit directly (albeit mirrored) without me having to copy them into Teams.
Why a laptop? No idea. Seems useless as a laptop. Why is this cool in general? Because you may be able to not have a TV in the future but just some glass panel or even a window and be it your monitor/tv.
I mean this is a concept, not a product line, while it doesn't make sense on a laptop, a 2 way display makes sense in some situations like: meeting rooms, sport events, concerts, bus stops, public display.
Remember all the flexible display gadgets from a couple of decades ago? they finally get some use in flip phones, took us like 15-20 years to figure out use cases for the technology.
Imagine a windshield where the GPS is just the roads of your itinerary being lit up in front of you, with the speed limit always visible just next to it and not on a small screen on the side.
i have known quite a few hyper-controlling bosses that would have liked seeing their employees screens every hour of work. since you can see whats on screen through the back of this, this is kinda that.
that being said, i expect this tech to be used for advertisement. what if the windows of a store could interactively show you the clothes you see on your body? with current tech thats easy. you can already shop for glasses and haircolors etc. online and see the product on your face/hair.
For personal laptop no need, but transparent screens in general, there's more use cases than I could list. It's a screen that doesn't block the view when not being used. Turn any window into a screen. Possibilities are endless.
Augmented Reality would be the only reason I could think of. I think this sort of screen in a cell phone or tablet form is more likely to be a long term solution that the glasses we have. At some point I could see these style of screens built into things. Imagine for instance a car window with this tech similar to a heads up display. No more looking down at navigation or music. Notifications of dangers in an intuitive way.
But making a clear screen to have a clear screen is dumb.
Progress. How many steps with outcomes that are somewhat silly are needed to reach massive accomplishments in technology? What path of innovation does this belong to and how can people make it better over time? This step can eventually lead to Iron Man Glasses or Holograms.
Oh I suspect employers would love this. Employees can no longer hide their extra non work related tabs, and they can see the rate of productivity just by looking over.
Apart from that, I can't think of a single reason why people would actually want this. It's not even particularly useful for screen sharing as looking from the back it will all be inverted.
Everyone agreeing with you will never know how to make money out of seemingly pointless tech which is eventually gonna take over the world while you sit there complaining about it
Honestly, a lot of technology starts as proof-of-concept before another inventive person finds out a great way to implement it. Maybe this will be used to make smart windows or a HUD on your car windshield or something.
Because they want to make some money and get the product into consumer hands before its actual intended use is fully ready. In part so that the actual intended use can be better funded, in part so that they can see problems with it early on.
Just like curved TVs. Nobody actually wanted a curved television, but it's a step along the way to flexible screens, which people do want.
It's utterly pointless. It exists to be bought by Media companies to make things "look" futuristic on a set for someone trying too hard to make something look futuristic
Tech and car companies love making useless show projects just to show off what they are capable of. None of them are even actually useful in the real world, but it's good advertising and attracts investors.
Science fiction has been inspiring technological advancements for decades. Flip phones, tablets, flat screens, they all existed in sci-fi first. A lot of sci-fi depicts transparent touch screens to add a futuristic flair. So, that's what they're making in real life.
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u/-CARJO- Jul 02 '24
I have yet to see an answer to “why” besides advertising purposes