ExPlay oio, the Smallest Projector in the World

This might be one of this year's greatest breakthroughs. The idea of being able to project a decent image with a tiny device is something you only see in Sci-Fi movies.

Oddly enough, the geniuses behind the world's smallest projector are not Japanese or German, they're Israeli. Explay assembled a team of experts in electro-optics, polymer optics, beam shaping, opto-mechanics and analog and digital ASIC design and succeeded to come up with the OnDeGo products.

Although the oio nano-projector engine module can be a standalone pocket projector, it's likely that it will be integrated in most future handheld devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs or portable media players. Just imagine the endless possibilities of such a tiny projector.

You can project a movie from your PMP, browse through images; it can also be an incredible useful tool for conferences.

According to the company's site, "ExPlay's revolutionary laser-based projection technology enables high-resolution images 20 times larger than the mobile device itself.

Its unique battery-operated, nano-projector ensures an eye-safe, always focused superior quality, powerful projected image, elements which are essential for frequent usage by mobile product consumers.

Apparently, the design is not complicated, the projector consisting of an innovative light source, an enhanced image modulator and a proprietary ASIC; these components will allow Explay's OnDeGo products to support applications with projected screen sizes from 7" up to 30" (18 to 76 centimeters).

There are no solid details regarding power consumption or image quality, but ExPlay says that it excels in both areas.

According to mobilewhack.com, Explay displayed the oio at a press conference at SID 2007 in Long Beach, California; the company plans to launch oio in 2008.

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