Before huge flat screen tv’s made from large LCD panels and plasma modules the way we got huge square inch surface tv’s was with traditional television tubes or through a rear projector. Rear projector based screens allowed for a lesser depth than the tube tv’s as when you want a bigger viewing area typically a tube tv gets a lot lot deeper – some 32 inch tube tvs are almost 32 inchs deep! Anyway with rear projection being somewhat taken out by the huge plasma and lcd tv’s, perhaps micro projectors can bring it back!

The benefits of rear projection can be obvious, there was a huge curved screen released a few years ago, that immersed the user in a game environment as it offered a C shape 180 degree view of the game, something not yet commercially achievable with lcd and plasma (although it is in the works for 5-10 years time viably) – so with the progression of the micro projector is it not time to use these lightweight small pico’s to illuminate the rear projection screen market? Yes it will mean deeper monitors, but coupling several of these tiny projectors together in a rear projector array could allow for 180 degree or even 360 degree gaming experiences at a decently high resolution! (something we would never have had until the development of the pico projector that is in process now!) Just another fantastic use of the development of the tiny projector technology if you ask us, what’s more is this screen could be incredibly light weight – even compared to an LCD equivalent.

So will a company bring back the rear projection screen using the wonders of modern handheld projector technology? Who knows – but if you see one – tell us about it!!