this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2024
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this is a fascinating article as it goes into heavy detail about both techs and how they work.
but this did make me facepalm a bit:
"That’s why the transparent OLED TV LG demonstrated at CES 2024 included a “contrast layer”—basically, a black cloth—that unrolls and covers the back of the display on demand."
I'm not sure I can think of many practical applications for these devices.
I think most applications are going to be flashy nonsense like the vending machine I saw with a transparent display over the products. But that said, there could be a lot of opportunities for things like head-up displays, ubiquitous and stylized data displays, or even mundane applications of a commoditized version of this technology like tunable window colors.
the vending machine would be interesting for sure. i just hope it will be worth the length and cost of the development of this tech.
They'll make a really bad implementation of this just like Walgreens did with their screens in cooler doors: example
You can never see the contents of the fridge directly. Worse, the screens cycle so that giant word "Pizza" doesn't let you see inside, so now you have to open the door to see what pizza is in there or stand there in front waiting for the display to cycle to show you pictures of whats in side.
I mean it's a great investment to make me not shop there that's for sure. I haven't entered one of my local stores in roughly 4 years because when they did their reset they put those stupid coolers in, I don't wanna deal with them
I think it’s overrated tech for now, yeah, but if enough money and effort goes into it and it becomes commoditized, it could get interesting. I mean, what used to be a $1000 LCD monitor 20 years ago is now a $20 part with 20x the quality that you can drop into a DIY weekend project.
Even using them for movie see through screens instead of CGI to save money probably wouldn't work due to not enough contrast under bright studio lights. They tend to CGI phone screens now.
The one theing they would be great for would be some kind of HUD style thing for whatever is behind the screen, but that would either be a vague info bit off to the sides or it would need to track the location of the person's eyes and what they were looking at for anything more precise. At that point it would be better as glasses/goggles.
the HUD is what i initially thought, but in that scenario they'd need the screen to be a decent window as well.
but yeah as you said it would have to be functional as both. and I don't see that happening.
i do wonder how often a technology is developed with vigor only to not sell well. i kinda see that happening in the future with this. which sucks because these have been in development for years.
Remember 3D tvs? This is basically the same kind of 'screen but different' application that has limited uses and some inherent problems that may never be overcome in a way that makes them better than a simple flat screen.
There are tons of other inventions and innovations that hard work is put in to and don't pan out. Things not working out is just part of the process!
Images need contrast to be viewable. This reminds me of the Captain Disillusion video about the wristband that projected a screen onto a human wrist.
oh I love CD. i do remember that video! yeah I have serious doubts about the TVs
Honestly, having a huge window that is also a TV sounds great.
Want some natural light and a nice view? Got that window.
Want a nice big TV? One click and the room darkens and you get a huge screen.
I have heard they (South Korea) plan on building skyscrapers with screens covering the buildings, so that they can project the background skyline via the screens. The effect would be to render the building almost invisible. Seems like a lofty goal, so I am not sure if they are still pursuing that project or not.
I feel like we have too many birds so I see this as an absolute win.
...or they'll 9/11 themselves.
Except in practical use, this means you'd need to block a window with your TV (can't open it) or have a special window cut into your wall that fits this device (which may or may not last more than a few years making the whole endeavor useless).
Like many things in tech right now, they are solutions without problems.