Microsoft Experimenting with Future Surface Tablet Applications Designed for Transparent Displays

 

 

Last month the U.S. Patent Office revealed a patent application from Microsoft showing that they had invented a tablet computer with a transparent display. The new transparent display would introduce new interactive functionality. As noted in the patent figure above, a future version of a Surface tablet could have a transparent display. When opening an app like Microsoft Word, a split key virtual keyboard could pop-up with the app in the center so that the user's fingers holding the tablet could type.

 

In another Microsoft example of a transparent display application as noted above, we're able to see a user interface that includes game pieces supported by interaction via detection sensors. A user may "play the game" through interacting with game pieces through the transparent display. In this way, the user interface may support the display of the game without interfering with the front visual of the game in action.

 

The new transparent display with new interactivity options sounds interesting in theory but only time will tell if this type of interactivity will actually deliver significant advantages and/or benefits beyond novelty.

 

In the bigger picture, many inventions are really part of bigger projects and/or project-segments that over time and in combination end up differently than originally envisioned.

 

Microsoft has many patents regarding transparent displays on record for devices and glasses like the HoloLens product now in development. Below is a list of some of the other patents Microsoft has in this category of transparent displays.

 

Microsoft Invents Portable Devices with Transparent Displays (2012)

 

Microsoft Invents Advanced Optics for Future Xbox Eyewear (2012)

 

Microsoft Reveals Futuristic 3D Virtual HoloDesk Patent (2012)

 

Microsoft Invents Projector Eyewear for Xbox & Beyond (2012)

 

Microsoft Invents Futuristic Notebook with Transparent Display, Projection System and Holographic Optics (2013)

 

Microsoft Patent Reveals 3D Interactive Display System (2014)

 

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