The TV is becoming more and more like the PC, not just in terns of what it can do (i.e. the vast entertainment riches accessible via the internet) but in terms of its rapidly progressing performance and feature set. As a result of the accelerating evolution of the LCD specifically, some non-traditional applications are being developed that will take the liquid crystal display far beyond the home theater.
Samsung was kind enough to invite Big Picture Big Sound to the manufacturer's state-of-the-art product showcase venue in Manhattan, The Samsung Experience, and give us working demonstrations of two of their futuristic LCD configurations, with discussion of even more. First up was the Transparent LCD, a TFT liquid crystal display that at first appeared to be a clear piece of simple glass but for the fact that video images were being shown upon it.
Yes, I could readily see whatever was behind the glass, in this case an artful little scene orchestrated for this demo, which of course raises the question, "Well, isn't that distracting?" And the answer is, "Yeah, if you plan to use this as a regular display to watch movies and such." But Samsung is positioning this technology as a potential architectural feature in the high-end home of tomorrow, and such screens could be used in many different ways throughout a house. There are also commercial uses, as an inviting, non-opaque way to display advertisements, menus and more.
The Transparent LCD was being shown in a custom-designed box which allowed the lighting to be more effectively controlled, particularly that from behind, which makes a big difference in the overall look. There is no backlight, which is a huge power savings, and the final version of this LCD might even be designed to run off of solar power, since its demands are so meager. The retail price could potentially be lower than that of traditional LCDs, too.
This one was a prototype, but early samples will be going out to consumers soon for testing and feedback, before mass production begins in 2011.
More familiar to readers will likely be the "Window Wall" that Samsung has been developing in conjunction with Runco, an array of 720p 46-inch LCDs just 7.3mm thick. They can display different video or all work together to render a single massive image. Fans of movies like Total Recall or the extended edition of Aliens will no doubt recognize this as the technology of the future, but it can be had today, although we're guessing it isn't cheap. A newer version is already in the works, incorporating a block of 1080p 55-inch LCDs, and the hope is to make the seams in between the screens even thinner and less obtrusive.
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