A transparent smartphone sounds like something completely fantastic, but can it ever become a reality?
Many fans of electrical engineering have probably seen concept images of completely transparent smartphones at least once. They look very beautiful and, most importantly, unlikely.
Some people argue that transparent smartphones will become a reality in this century, while others believe that this is something from the realm of fantasy, so it will remain at the level of a concept.
Below we will try to figure out how real the possible release of a transparent phone is, and also talk about its possible shortcomings and pitfalls.
What's the point?
To our knowledge, the transparent smartphone is similar in functionality to the latest generation of foldable phones. Devices of this type do not improve its performance because the main feature is in the design - the phone will look very cool.
However, many users have commented on what a transparent phone screen can do in terms of device performance. Some people believe that transparent phones can improve both the camera and the app switching experience.
With a transparent display, you can open two different applications (one on each side), making multitasking easier. But these are, in fact, the only advantages. Other than that, the transparent screen doesn't offer anything revolutionary.
Has anyone done this before?
Transparent telephones were never intended for commercial sale. Brands such as Apple and Samsung never even mentioned a possible release of a transparent phone, but other companies created prototypes and filed patents.
In 2012, the Japanese mobile operator Docomo and the major electronics manufacturer Fujitsu teamed up and created a prototype of a transparent device with a double-sided touch OLED screen.
The phone was quite primitive and did not look like a modern smartphone at all. The display was very small and the brightness was well below normal. But he was really transparent!
It is worth mentioning and Ericsson Xperia Pureness, a functional telephone with a transparent screen, released back in the distance. But the screen here was small and more reminded the monolith, and the transparency was low.
Principle of operation
Transparent OLED displays, which are likely to be installed on smartphones, already Moody are used in televisions. They look like this:
In addition to the OLED technology, a transparent screen can be made by using transparent electroluminescent displays (Tasel) and a typical HUD display.
- Tasel is a glass screen covered with a layer of phosphorus, as well as a printed circuit board. This type of display will be able to provide the most transparent sensory screens.
- There are also HUD, which is pretty good. This is the oldest type of transparent screens. It requires three key elements for its creation: adder, projector and computer for generating video.
Due to the presence of such promising technologies, the question may arise: why are transparent phones still do not exist?
Is it practical?
The very idea of a transparent smartphone looks cool, but its implementation is accompanied by several problems.
First, fragility. Modern realities are such that split the phone is too simple, even if it has a metal case and a cover.
If you argue logically, there will be no protection in a transparent smartphone (it does not even make sense, because transparency itself will disappear). Therefore, it is obvious that the number of breakdowns, like dissatisfied customers, will increase.
As for the clients themselves, most users have already become accustomed to high-quality displays. Unfortunately, transparent screens will not be able to provide the same quality colors and clarity.
Thus, even if some company will release a smartphone with a transparent screen, sales are likely to be not too impressive.
Nevertheless, the release of the first real transparent smartphone is the task completely perfect. Given that the Japanese companies create prototypes, and such large brands like Samsung and LG are considering the possibility of working on this technology, we can really see the release of transparent smartphones in the foreseeable future.
New technologies are always an experiment
Many of us probably would like to see a transparent smartphone, but not everyone wants to buy it. Difficulties in terms of quality and functionality are the pitfalls of phones with a transparent screen.
In any case, it is now impossible to talk about anything with 100% certainty. But it is worth remembering that technology is developing by leaps and bounds, and the appearance of an excellent transparent smartphone is quite likely.
