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That’s my hand. It’s behind the Haier Designer Transparent TV. Yeah, a TV that you can see through. Cool. Super cool. Super duper cool, even. But why?
There was a meeting at Haier, the #1 Brand in the World*, where someone said, “Hey, let’s make a see-through television.” Everyone nodded in agreement, and here it is.
Okay, the television isn’t totally worthless. You can put your hand puppets into your favorite show. Hey look, it’s Mr. Socky solving crimes on CSI.
* I have no idea how this company makes this claim. Maybe they’re using see-through rulers to measure it. [Haier]
I need a transparent TV please, no I need my window to be my TV, also with touch control, this will help me reach my goal of Minority Report type control..
You’d need two to replace a window retaining the benefit of double glazing
Assuming that this is a decent TV when on, I think this is a fantastic idea. One of the main reasons I haven’t taken the plunge for a big TV is how awful they make the whole room look when they are off. A massive black, looming rectangle in the corner of the room or the wall, dominating everything.
Now if they can simply fade into the background when they are not in use that’s a massive win, and one I’d pay for. Sign me up.
Also, surely this can help with SAD – simply replace a window and then put on a nice sunny photo from out the same window then it’s raining. Job done.
Obviously I meant *when* it’s raining, not then. …then it’s raining would rather defeat the point.
I have to ask the same question – why? Who would want one?
It’s not as if they’re showing off a new idea – given you can leave the convention center and walk to any casino to see IGT, WMS and others using transparent (with touch) screens on a range of slots.. some even featuring a transparent screen on top of another one – or on top of conventional reels.
At least the gaming companies thought about a use for the technology and put it to good use (IGT’s Ghostbusters is excellent by the way, especially the version with the ‘active’ seats) and didn’t just show a product that nobody is likely to buy. Well, perhaps it could be useful for CCTV operators who could do their job AND look out of the window at the same time…
Did you even read the comment before yours? the one from Growmac?
I totally agree, I want one so I don’t have to have a black rectangle dominating the room when the TV is off – I’m one of those people who actually switch the TV off when I’m not watching it – rather than leave it on as background babble.
Combine this transparency with the sammy OLED and I’ll pay over teh odds, no problem.
I get that usage idea from Growmac, sort of, but you’ll still need a frame and a backlight for it to be any good when showing a picture – and that spider walking up the wall will be mildly annoying!
This technology is already being used where the transparency has a real benefit. Just trying to become invisible when turned off is a tenuous one – but may find a market (albeit a small one). I never did find out how well the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pure sold (the one with the transparent display) but I believe it was a total flop.
Personally, I think people will be happier to have a flat panel that’s 3-4mm thick fitted on the wall. It may not disappear when turned off, but I doubt many people will mind. I’m still very old-school, having a 42-inch LCD that sits on a TV stand!!
(Finally, no, I didn’t spot the above comment until after I’d written mine – as I’d had trouble logging in so it took a while to write/submit).
Yeah, they really should have shown what it looks like when it’s actually turned on.
Is that not it turned on and showing an image of a TV?
You can see his hand through the frame of the inner TV, so either it is being displayed on the screen or (more unlikely) there is a small TV with a transparent frame between the front TV and his hand.
I like! What I really want though is a transparent phone like Tony Stark’s
Saving the money for the backlight and light guide structure and claiming it to be new innovation? Silly!
It’s a bit like removing my car’s engine and start pushing the car while claiming I made myself a new greener car.