2 super cool tech gadgets...

[deadrats]

one that you can get right now (assuming you have the money) and one that you will probably be able to buy within 10 years, if not much, much sooner. first up, a projector phone, i.e. a cell phone with a built in projector that can, well project, anything being displayed on the screen, like a movie for instance:

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:http://www.artuji.com/lg-projector-phone-unveiled/3071

if i have the dough, and there no bugs, i am buying one of these as soon as it hits the market.

and the next super cool "thing" that i have no doubt will one day be as common in any household as a tv:

http://www.projectaiko.com/technology.html

Aiko has the ability to talk and interact with human (13,000+ sentences). Aiko can read books, newspapers (print font size at least 12 pts). She has the ability to solve math problems displayed to her visually. Aiko has the ability to see color patterns on the clothes you are wearing. Aiko in theory has the ability to bring you your orange juice or coffee. In other words, Aiko can distinguish between the different drinks. She can also recognize simple foods such as Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Sandwiches and even toys. Aiko has the ability to recognize the faces of family members, or Aiko can be programmed to activate defense mode when it does not recognize the person’s face in the house such as in the case of an intruder. When you are about to go outside, Aiko can tell you to bring an umbrella if it is going to rain or wear warmer clothes if it is windy.

i don't think there can be any argument of all the fields that will be in high demand over the next 20+ years, robotics has to certainly top the list.

when i went to school they had just started offering a robotics program, i often look back and wish i had the foresight to have made robotics my major instead of the path i took.

ah well, there's no point in crying over spilled milk...

[yoda313]

The only thing about the projector phone in the commercial I saw was it looks like it only shows a 10" screen at best.

Sure its better than the 1.5" screen you get on some phones but hardly "home theater".

I think it would be a thing that would sway some users from one phone to another but if its limited in size than its probably more gimmicky at this point.

It would be great for presenters for business or school though - no need to have a projector - just bring your phone. If it could handle a office app just imagine projecting a spreadsheet with just your phone!

[M Bruner]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356553,00.asp
Looks like Yoda313's info is a little off. This article says the display is still readable at 120 inches (10 feet!?) $299 if you have to have one.

[yoda313]

FYI I was just going by the commercial I saw and they showed it rather small

[deadrats]

The only thing about the projector phone in the commercial I saw was it looks like it only shows a 10" screen at best.

Sure its better than the 1.5" screen you get on some phones but hardly "home theater".

I think it would be a thing that would sway some users from one phone to another but if its limited in size than its probably more gimmicky at this point.

It would be great for presenters for business or school though - no need to have a projector - just bring your phone. If it could handle a office app just imagine projecting a spreadsheet with just your phone!

a 10 foot screen is 120 inches, my hdtv is only 32 inches, a high end hdtv is in the 55-65 inch range, so this would be double that.

but imagine the possibilities, i don't know if this is one of those phones that you can surf the web on or get tv (there is one that you can actually get all the football games right to your phone) but imagine being lost comewhere and projecting a 10 foot image pf google maps or going shopping with the misses and being able to watch the game on a 10 foot screen or showing your buddies a 10 foot pic of the girl you met the other night or playing that cells phone boxing game on a 10 foot screen, the list is endless.

it strikes me like one of those technologies that you never imagine you need or want but when you have it you wonder how the hell you ever lived without it.

makes me wonder why gaming consoles like the 360 or the ps3 don't come with one of those pico projectors built int, imagine the marketing sales pitch: "you don't even need a tv, just a this console and a wall" or a video card with a projector built in, specifically for small form factors, build a mini home theater pc that is self contained and doesn't even need a monitor.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

I wonder how much the bulb would be and its life expectancy.

[guns1inger]

I haven't seen the current crop, although a quick google shows they are starting to pop up in a lot of places, but the original models were fairly low resolution - 640 x 480 ish. Standalone pico projectors were fine for an impromptu powerpoint presentation or showing youtube clips, but definitely not up to gaming or HD video. I am sure that will change over the next year or two, but these issues, combined with the high price for what little you get, mean they aren't a good value proposition yet. Like 90% of the crap built into your average phone today, it is little more than a battery draining novelty.