cooltech

I wrote about micro-projectors this past May, and in particular, the Microvision pico projector and the QPC BrightLase(R). This is one of the hot new markets in technology with a pocket-sized laser projectors that connect to mobile phones, personal media players and other mobile devices. My article in May about the Microvision product discussed a projector that would create an image that could be seen by a small group gathered around a small screen.

One thing that can be said about technology, with some consistency, is that it improves on the features of products continuously. The Microvision pico projector is no exception.  Instead of limiting the viewing area of the projected image to a tabletop screen, the new improved projector can project images up to 100 inches. This opens up the market and applications for this new generation of lens-less projectors.

According to Microvision, the PicoP display engine, the fundamental technology on which the company’s laser projector prototype is based, is comprised of directly modulated light sources, custom-drive electronics and software, optical combiners and Microvision’s MEMS single scanning mirror.

The tiny scanning mirror itself is less than one square millimeter in area—or about the size of the head of a pin. The single scanning mirror is designed to scan in both horizontal and vertical directions so that a single beam of light can be precisely steered, in a raster-like fashion, at very high speeds to project a complete video image.

The reason this technology is cutting-edge is because of the small size and low power requirements of the device. The new generation of micro-projector achieves efficient full-color, hi-resolution, high-contrast images without the need for a front lens; this means no focusing concerns.

The new Microvision projector prototype will be introduced at CEATEC in Tokyo, Japan (September 30-October 4, 2008).  The original projector was just introduced to the public at the CES show earlier this year.

This next generation of projector is envisioned to have any number of commercial applications. As I mentioned in May, the new technology can be used for automotive heads-up displays, cell phones and lap tops. The small pico projectors are a big improvement for outside salespeople who currently lug around data projectors.  With the new larger projected image, the market for micro-projectors should blossom.

Okay, I’m beginning to realize that we really have moved into the age of robots. It was one thing to watch the robot on Lost in Space back in the sixties and laugh at the moving can with flexi-arms.  Now things are real. I mean, look at the progression of robot products in the consumer market. 

It began with robots that would vacuum your carpet and mow you lawn. We then began to see advanced animatronics coming out of Japan that were really like the robots we saw in science fiction movies.  Now, in the fall, we will see the WALL-E robot hit the store shelves in conjunction with the release of the Disney movie of the same name. But it doesn’t end there; check out Rolly from Sony.

Your MP3’s were never like this before.  An egg-shaped robot that moves to your music.

Rolly is a more sophisticated device than one might expect upon first appearance. It is amazing to watch, with it’s moving end caps (that move like arms) and the lights and precise movements. But it allows it’s owner to program it’s choreography to exacting routines. It’s really a fully programmable music player.

Using the Rolly Choreographer software, the user can create their own choreography for their favorite songs and preview the results on their PC, or the software will create the moves automatically. The personalized routine can then be uploaded to the Rolly Go forum to share with others.  This is the creative angle that will create a niche following for Rolly.  As an example of artificial intelligence, the Rolly is an interesting advance. 

Rolly became available to the buying public in Japan last Fall.  My guess is that Americans will fall into two schools of thought on this product; you love it or you hate it.   There is no doubt that the Japanese really like their robots.  Just check out Youtube. (btw, there are some good Rolly videos on Youtube as well).  Look at the Rolly ‘big brother’ , Miuro that has been available in Japan since 2006.  It doesn’t even have the flapping arms, but it moves to the music also.  Those attributes seem to make people in Japan laugh and can produce some level of amusement.

The price might take you back. The current suggested retail price is $399.00, which is what you can buy it for at SONY Style stores.  Since I see this product as being a hit with teens, I think SONY may need to rethink their pricing model. There is no doubt that some sophisticated electronics exist in the Rolly, but what’s new about that?