New video displays make big deal out of tiny details

Article Abstract:

The U.S. Army contracted with the Sarnoff Corp. to develop a large-scale LCD, suitable for field command use. Researchers at Sarnoff are now envisioning wider applications, since the technology offers a higher resolution image than the light emitting diodes in present day large screen advertising and sports displays. The system under development tiles smaller LCDs, but gets around the problem of seams in the image. The LCDs, back lit by LEDs, are covered with an array of microscopic lenses, which in turn project the image on a plastic screen. The entire 'sandwich' will probably be eight inches thick when in production. Feeding each LCD tile is a Pentium processor. The system of processors is controlled by a main computer, which will also correct image uniformity via a video camera trained on the screen. Researchers say it may be a while before home users require 30 million pixels on a three-by-six-foot screen, at $30,000 a unit.

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Motion sensors may let everyday appliances do more; researchers look for cheaper ways to make devices that measure motion

Article Abstract:

Researchers hope that innovative accelerometers that detect motion will be used in the future in several everyday appliances. New accelerometers are being developed with microchip-industry technology that cost less to manufacture. However, the fabrication process involves many more steps than that of standard microchips. New research is being done by Dr. Michael Gaitan at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD and by Norwood, MA-based Analog Devices.

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Input devices call on a little muscle; a computer embedded in something that people already wear

Article Abstract:

Jun Rekimoto, director of Sony Computer Science Laboratories' Interaction Laboratory, has developed the GestureWrist wrist watch. The watch is able to generate certain simple computer commands by using arm-muscle, electrical-activity signals. He is also developing the GesturePad which will operate small electronic devices using the same principles. His intention is to make effective 'wearable equipment' that in no way resembles a computer.

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