3M has just announced that they’re creating a “Mobile Interactive Solutions Division” to focus on tiny projectors for mobile devices. Today they ship battery powered projectors that are a little larger than a smartphone, but in the future your next mobile device may very well have a projector built in. The Nikon S1000pj, which was announced this summer, is the first digital camera to ship with a projector built in and it measures only 99.5 mm x 62.5 mm x 23 mm. Compare that to something like the Nokia N95 8GB which is 99 mm x 53 mm x 21 mm and you’ll soon realize that the future is going to come a little faster than you think. In America you can already purchase the LG eXpo and an optional projector that snaps on the back of the device.
“More and more, people depend on mobile devices for constant information and communication in today’s technology-dependent world, and 3M can play a big role in improving their experiences.” — Mark Colin, Vice President and General Manager of the new Mobile Interactive Solutions Division
Let it be said, on the record, that I think bundling projectors inside hardware is one of the most stupidest ideas, ever. The future I see in my crystal ball involves cheap displays everywhere that people connect to wirelessly via a simple tap or menu command.