You remember the purchase of the domain Applepico.com made by the company from Cupertino a few days ago? If so, then here is a patent that details a method by which Apple could implement pico-projectors in future iDevices or even Macs. The patent describes the method by which these projectors could be implemented inside the internal structure of iDevices, but it also describes a system of gestures that users could undertake and which would control the way the devices work. Everything seems to be very similar to Microsoft's Kinect technology, but for now we are only talking about a patent.
The shared workspace may include two or more projected displays, each generated by a separate electronic device. Images may be transferred between the projected displays within the shared workspace. For example, the electronic devices may communicate with each other over a communication link that allows data for images to be transferred between the electronic devices for display on different projected displays within the shared workspace.
The patent also describes a system called shared workspace that would allow users to transmit the images projected by an iDevice to the virtual screen projected by another iDevice. Basically, we are talking about sharing images directly on the screens projected by our terminals or Macs, a rather interesting and little-used concept for mobile terminals. From patenting to implementation is a long way, but Apple seems to be interested in including such devices in Macs and iDevices, so in a year or two it is possible to see an iPhone with a built-in pico-projector.
