Three More Technologies That Could Profoundly Change Handhelds

Ed Hardy · 04-19-2004, 01:08 PM

Scientists and engineers are working on a number of products that could have a significant impact on future handhelds and smart phones, including batteries that last much longer, a display that projects an image into the air, and fluid lenses.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Th...ologies_Part_5

pixelator · 04-19-2004, 06:24 PM

I'd be willing to bet that the 'secret' behind the Heliodisplay is ice crystals or water vapor. There's no other way that 'air can be treated' without adding something to it. Ever see a cooling element on an air conditioner get frosty when you turn it on? I suspect something similar is going on, here. Air has water (hydrogen) already, so if you 'treat' it by transforming it into water vapor or a faint fog of crystallized ice, you could then project an image onto it.

Funny, I was thinking this very thing the other day while pondering the possibility of 'thin air' displays. It's creepy to see this article pop up on BH so soon after thinking about it. Stop using your alien mind reading techniques on me, Ed!

Ed Hardy · 04-19-2004, 09:01 PM

I was wondering if they took something away from the air: an electron. This would ionize the air molecules. Not that I have any idea how ionized air can be used in a "thin air" display, but it might be the first step.

p.s. pixelator, we owe the Grfthphbbb Empire too much rent money on all the mind reading equipment to stop the experiments now, but mostly what we've discovered is that Americans spend too much time thinking about how J.Lo would look covered in chocolate and whipped cream.

pixelator · 04-19-2004, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ed
how J.Lo would look covered in chocolate and whipped cream.

imported_BigLig · 04-20-2004, 10:03 AM

I like the look of that thin air machine. I wonder if it could be made to do 3-D...

That is what the future is meant to look like. I mean really, it's 2004 - where's my jet pack?

pixelator · 04-20-2004, 01:27 PM

We're too busy making zillion-dollar fighters that get dropped in favor of old, cheaper models... And all our nation's cash is being spent on wars and supporting foreign economies. Cancer? AIDS? Motor Neuron diseases? Not the highest priorities.

Look at the heat Bush (no fan of him, but...) got for proposing we send people back to the Moon and then to Mars. Nobody wants that, anymore. We want better TiVo, more smartbombs and lower taxes.

Sorry, I rarely do the poly-sci rant.

Compusmurf · 04-20-2004, 03:09 PM

Ed,

You've been listening to Science Friday and Science News weekly again, haven't you.

Was it last week or the week before where they covered the battery technology and fluid lens'?

Pretty interesting, but I never thought to "think about it" with PocketPC's while listening to the broadcasts.

I'll have to listen better with PocketPC thoughts in my head next time to see if I can find you some more "killer" technologies!

shiningh2o · 04-20-2004, 06:02 PM

Hmm- of the 3 items, it looks like the batteries will be the first to market. Which is very interesting news. The issue of battery life has been one of my hobby horses. Lack of decent battery life in general on PDAs.

Part of the reason is personal, because after I wax enthusiastic about the fun things and serious uses of PDAs to any poor soul who hasn't learned to plead urgent matters elsewhere when I get on a roll - I normally end up skimming over the battery life issue.

Once some one evinces any real interest in a PDA, I reluctantly fill them in on what they will probably have to do to keep fully charged. E.g., religiously charging overnight, buy a bigger battery and/or buy a car charger, etc. For most people used to cell phones longer battery lives or with one of the earlier Palms, this usually comes as a shock. And an added expense to the ownership of a PDA. And tho, I'm a PPC owner, I really don't see much difference with most of the mid to high end Palms now day

And part of the reason is just plain geekiness. I want the biggest baddiest battery -- soo

From the etaiwannews.com:
"...Batteries that last up to one month without recharging should be available soon, ..."

How soon??? Anyone got any idea?? Next month, next quarter, next year?

and

"... Designed with capacities over 160W, the batteries are made by stacking polymer electrolytes with special materials. "

And how much more batery life would 160W capacity give on the charging cycle of --say a Toshiba e800 or Ipaq5555 or one of the high end Tungstens???? Those are pdas that have WiFi, and or BT and have dual slots so that you could put in a 4Gb Hitachi MD. Anyone care to hazard a WAG??

T-Will · 04-22-2004, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pixelator
We're too busy making zillion-dollar fighters that get dropped in favor of old, cheaper models... And all our nation's cash is being spent on wars and supporting foreign economies. Cancer? AIDS? Motor Neuron diseases? Not the highest priorities.

Look at the heat Bush (no fan of him, but...) got for proposing we send people back to the Moon and then to Mars. Nobody wants that, anymore. We want better TiVo, more smartbombs and lower taxes.

Sorry, I rarely do the poly-sci rant.

I would respond, but I don't think this is a political forum...

Of those three technologies, I'm really looking forward to see if that battery technology actually materializes.