The mantra has always been bigger displays, thinner displays and higher resolution displays. But Polytron Technologies has released a prototype of a smartphone with a transparent display. The nascent technology allows you to literally see through the phone. The Taiwan based manufacturer has confirmed that the technology is mature; though in initial stages.
The hardware is made from Polytron’s “Polyvision Privacy Glass”. According to the company, the OLED display utilizes liquid crystal molecules to display things. When powered off, molecules are scattered and the display is opaque. But the phone amazingly transforms on powering up. The electricity lines up the molecules to form text and images, the light passes through instead of reflecting and the phone looks clear.
The yet-to-be-named phone has a dual-sided multi-touch display and currently the prototype has a LED light and speakers. Sam Yu, Polytron’s general manager, told Macworld told that the company has not installed any software yet but there are talks with several handset makers.
Of course, the SIM card, batteries, SD card and the power switch up top is visible. But the company plans to cover this (lower) portion according to Mobile Geeks.
Polytron doesn’t plan to stop at smartphones, either, as Yu said that the firm plans to introduce a prototype tablet with a transparent display in the coming weeks.
Polytron plans to launch the phone into production by the end of this year. But it remains to be seen whether it is a passing fad. To make a long term impact in the market, the transparency must provide solutions to any immediate problem; like in automobiles where the driver could text and watch incoming traffic. James Oconnell (@Jamesp0p) tweeted that “Instead of transparency I'd like a smartphone that doesn’t lose its battery capacity within two days of usage.”
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