Is that an LED projector in your pocket?
Minnesota-based 3M announced today that they have released an earpiece-sized LED projector for mobile and handheld device projection.
3M is now providing consumer electronics manufacturers with a revolutionary advancement in the emerging field of miniature projection technology. 3M scientists developed a breakthrough ultra-compact, LED-illuminated projection engine designed for integration into virtually any personal electronic device. Roughly the size of a wireless earpiece and less than half an inch thick, the 3M mobile projection engine delivers brilliant VGA resolution images and is available today.
This company creates and develops alot of cool technology, but is primarily a supplier of infrastructure materials or building blocks that others turn into finished goods. They do say in the press release that they are “…partnering with leading consumer electronics companies that plan to launch products in early 2008.”
Before I get too excited I’ll have to see one in action. Though I love the several smaller-than-dime-sized-lens 7 megapixel Panasonic and Canon cameras we own, when I’m serious about a photograph I’ll grab my Nikon digital SLR with its huge sensor and lens about the size of a small apple. The resulting image is low on noise and high on clarity.
Of course, cost and convenience are why we always buy the tiny, less qualitatively nice gear, heh? When I look at this tiny little projector component in the 3M picture, I can’t help but remember wheeling a huge Sony 3 gun projector (like this one) into a large group presentation and have been enjoying the continued reduction in size — and increase in quality — of the small projectors. At some point I’ll buy one when I’m confident a small one will be decent.
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About Steve Borsch
Strategist. Learner. Idea Guy. Salesman. Connector of Dots. Friend. Husband & Dad. CEO. Janitor. More here.
Connecting the Dots Podcast
Podcasting hit the mainstream in July of 2005 when Apple added podcast show support within iTunes. I'd seen this coming so started podcasting in May of 2005 and kept going until August of 2007. Unfortunately was never 'discovered' by national broadcasters, but made a delightfully large number of connections with people all over the world because of these shows. Click here to view the archive of my podcast posts.
Steve,
I’m still stunned at the price for any kind of projector for presentations. I’m sure the size and quality of a picture produced by something this small will be, shall we say, questionable. I can’t wait to hear and see the picture quality vs. money spent. That’s what I really care about…or am I just be being cheap?
Steve,
I’m still stunned at the price for any kind of projector for presentations. I’m sure the size and quality of a picture produced by something this small will be, shall we say, questionable. I can’t wait to hear and see the picture quality vs. money spent. That’s what I really care about…or am I just be being cheap?