These Fraunhofer microprojectors are still quite a ways off from being implemented into real phones, but the technology is certainly interesting. Based on an insect’s compound eye, the projector is a wafer of tiny LEDs that can twist and turn depending on position. This means there is no “keystoning” and the beams striking the surface will always be “crisp and clear.”

“Our projector consists of hundreds of tiny microprojectors in an array, each of which generates a complete image,” said Marcel Sieler, a researcher. “This technology, known as ‘array projection,’ is modeled on nature – on the compound eye found in some insects – and with it for the first time we can create very thin and bright LED projection systems with tremendous imaging properties.”

In short, the screen geometry changes with the position of the projector. Using the phone’s position sensor the projector calculates the optimum angle for each micro-array.

By adding infrared beams to the mix, the researchers have been able to make the screens touch sensitive, allowing you to tap, swipe, and select items on any surface. Because the arrays are very small you could feasibly stuff these into a phone or even a smart surface that interacts directly with a mobile device.

The company will display the system this month but don’t expect it in your phones for a while. The future, as they say, is here. It’s just not evenly distributed.

via: techcrunch

The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently published details on an interesting Microsoft patent. The patent relates to a two-sided smart device display system for phones and

tablets. It features an integrated second low-power, possibly E Ink, display on the back that would show certain types of information.

The secondary display could come in very handy for getting things like a clock off of the main display to free up space. It could display other information that might otherwise not be shown. The second display would use its own low-powered processor, which would reduce the power load from the primary display.

This could be very handy and can be used in many ways. Hopefully we will see this implemented in our phones one day soon.

via:bgr

If you think it’s difficult now avoiding embarrassing moments from being captured in a snapshot or video by someone with a mobile phone, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas disclosed this week that they’ve developed an imager chip that could turn mobile phones into devices that can see through walls, wood, plastics, paper, and other objects.

Kenneth O, left, with Dae Yeon Kim Image: Courtesy of the University of Texas at DallasThe research team, led by Kenneth O, director of the Texas Analog Center of Excellence and a professor of electrical engineering, tapped an unused range in the electromagnetic spectrum and some microchip technology to brew their X-ray chip.

Portions of the electromagnetic spectrum are already used for consumer devices. For example, microwaves are used to cook food, broadcast radio uses AM and FM waves, and infrared waves are used for seeing in the dark. For their purposes, the researchers used waves in the terahertz range.

“We’ve created approaches that open a previously untapped portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for consumer use and life-saving medical applications,” O said. “The terahertz range is full of unlimited potential that could benefit us all.”

The researchers’ approach reduces the size of the mechanics needed to create images with terahertz waves. Combined with CMOS technology–which is used in a number of consumer devices such as digital cameras and camcorders, smartphones and HD TVs–a chip can be created that can “see” through solid objects.

“CMOS is affordable and can be used to make lots of chips,” Dr. O explained. “The combination of CMOS and terahertz means you could put this chip and receiver on the back of a cellphone, turning it into a device carried in your pocket that can see through objects.”

In developing their chip, the researchers, who are concerned about privacy, are focusing on a range of less than four inches. Once the chip hits the mainstream, though, there are plenty of folks, many of them wearing uniforms, who have fewer qualms than the researchers about boosting the range of the chip.

Other Uses

Aside from its snooping potential, the chip could have a number of beneficial uses. For example, it could be used in a high-tech wall stud finder and to authenticate documents. Businesses could use it to detect counterfeit money and manufacturers could use it to improve the quality of their products.

The chip could have intriguing potential in the medical field, too. It could be used to detect cancer tumors, diagnosing disease through breath analysis, and monitoring air toxicity.

In addition to its X-Ray applications, terahertz waves also have communication applications. There are more communication channels available in terahertz than the range than currently used for wireless communication, so information could be more rapidly shared at the terahertz frequency.

O’s team’s research was presented at the most recent International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC). Next on the team’s agenda is to build an entire working imaging system based on the CMOS terahertz system.

via: pc world

The most unloved wireless carrier in the U.S. is finally doing something that doesn’t screw over its customers. Starting April 8, AT&T will kindly unlock iPhones locked to its network, provided you have fulfilled your contract and your account is in good standing.

Why it took so long for AT&T to unlock iPhones so that customers can swap SIM cards is beyond us.

“Beginning Sunday, April 8, we will offer qualifying customers the ability to unlock their AT&T iPhones. The only requirements are that a customer’s account must be in good standing, their device cannot be associated with a current and active term commitment on an AT&T customer account, and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee.”

9to5Mac suggests it might have to do with customers who wrote in to Tim Cook asking for help unlocking their AT&T iPhones. Tim Cook’s minions magically convinced AT&T to unlock those requested iPhones.

Maybe Cook was tired of all the email flooding into his inbox all of a sudden. I’ve got a confession: I sent Tim Cook an email on Wednesday asking him to unlock my iPhone 4 (Doesn’t ever hurt to try, am I right?)

Finally, AT&T does something good that doesn’t make its customers want to curse it into oblivion. Now iPhone users won’t need to jailbreak to unlock their iPhones. It’s about time.

9to5Mac, via Macworld