Microvision's Pocket Projector Shines, Speckles

Funky image artifacts

We finally got a look at the SHOW, Microvision’s almost-ready-for-prime-time laser projector. We certainly like the size—a little bigger than an iPod in current form, and planned to be about iPod-sized when other companies brand it and sell it around the end of the year.

But the video quality left us a little disappointed. Color is fantastic, thanks to the lasers. (More impressive than the white LEDs I suspect are in 3M’s projector.)  But for the same reason, the detail was a bit lacking, due to a phenomenon called “speckle.” When a laser hits a screen, some of the light bounces straight back, into the oncoming beam, causing interference. The effect made it look like the SHOW was projecting onto burlap instead of onto a smooth tablecloth, wall, or screen.

And Microvision says it’s not something that can be fully fixed—just an inherent property of lasers. Although they promise the final version will look better. (And they could eliminate speckle if LEDs progress enough to work with Microvision’s projection system.)

The folks from Microvision say that 9 out of 10 people they showed it to didn’t even notice the speckle. That seems hard to believe. But even with the speckles, the ability to shine big-screen images anywhere you go is awfully appealing.—Sean Captain

Comments

[thlayli]

Hey it's a first generation cigarette pack-sized video projector! It's not to replace your home TV. Speckles and other artefacts can be overlooked for now. The other Blog entries from CES seem to have some WOW factor, but nothing good to say about SHOW or the 3M product.

[erin]

this is cool....
tehehhe

[vinod]

Where well done i got a thought when i have MP4 Player watching Video files i got this idea why cant we have a projector with in the handy size that easy to carry, have support video, audio, ppt, images, etc., and with external sd/mm card drives, attached with power cable, no battery.

Thanks to the person who got the same idea. Hope to be in market which can available to common man also.

[Mike]

Erin, in the future please pause for a moment to consider what it is that you really want to say... Then pause for another moment to consider whether anyone would find what you have to say remotley interesting...

Thanks for the comment Erin... you either made it while you were drunk or you have no idea what the hell your talking about...

[John David Locking]

http://www.gia.edu/; webmaster@hollymcclure.com

[ma320zda]

c706t

[Carl (checking into home projector) Mccary]

Evertime I think that the technology has reached a limit for now....someone manages to reset the standard.

Unbelievable how fast these innovations are progressing.

[Mp3 Players]

my daughter would love one of those.

[MMORPG]

I love it! I want one!