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Transparent displays are currently a hot ticket item in mobile devices. Recent pictures of a transparent screen iPhone and iPad have
created huge internet buzz about the potential of such items. The
response has been positive and there appears to be high demand for the
devices. Unfortunately for anyone who wants a see through iPhone, it
isn’t likely to happen any time soon.
The recently released pictures are part of a phenomenon known as “design fiction.” Design fiction
are drawings or videos that give the viewer an illusion of a product.
Designers create more than just the look of a product. The designers
also conceptualize the functionality of these fantasy products, for
example, showing the viewer how a display could switch between
transparent and nontransparent viewing modes. However, these
fantastical creations are probably not destined for mainstream adoption,
even if they were to become a reality within the next several years.
While a transparent phone or tablet may seem like an amazing device,
the concept has a long way to go before it would be practicable for the
majority of users. As currently designed, the majority of the space
within a smartphone or tablet is occupied by the battery that powers the
device. As most users want a reasonable length of battery life for
their tablet or phone, a transparent display would be impractical, as
the battery would have to be small enough to fit somewhere at the edge
of the device in order to allow for transparency. Additionally, a
transparent phone screen would result in lower image quality. Image
quality is another feature that most users are simply not willing to
sacrifice.
While transparent phones and tablets may not be in widespread use anytime in the near future, other forms of transparent technology will be used, and are even currently on the market. Samsung
has developed transparent display products, such as the Smart Window,
which can be used to display an image in a window, which could be
installed your home or office. Transparent displays can effectively
turn any already transparent item, such as windows, display cases, or
even eyewear, into a computer screen. So while transparent mobile
devices may stay in the realm of design fiction for now, other
transparent screens have already moved from fantasy to reality.
