As pledged, Lenovo graced the stage at the MWC 2024 Barcelona event to reveal Project Crystal, touted by the laptop manufacturer as the world’s transparent laptop featuring a micro-LED display. Its appearance resembles something directly plucked from a science fiction film.
As you would expect, the Lenovo Project Crystal is only a concept device with no plans to hit stores, at least for now. The laptop was commissioned by the company’s ThinkPad division, known for its Notebooks.
Project Crystal flaunts not just a micro-LED screen but also incorporates AI innovation to facilitate this transparent display. An applicable scenario for this functionality could be in environments like a medical clinic or a hospitality establishment’s front desk. Rather than physically rotating the screen, users can effortlessly invert the display through software, allowing individuals on the opposing side to access information while receiving comprehensive explanations.
Lenovo proposes that incorporating the rear camera into the system paves the way for potential augmented reality (AR) applications. For example, the camera could be utilized to identify objects, similar to the functionality provided by Google Lens.
Furthermore, harnessing the transparent display of the system presents an opportunity to further enhance this concept. This enhancement could entail superimposing diagrams or schematics onto objects, thereby facilitating tasks such as troubleshooting or repair.
Although the transparent laptop screen comprises multiple layers, the panel remains remarkably thin and resembles an ordinary piece of glass when inactive. However, with a simple press of a button, it illuminates and can achieve an astonishing peak brightness of 3000 nits. Lenovo is contemplating the addition of a contrast layer, allowing the screen to transition to an opaque state akin to a typical laptop. Nevertheless, the resolution on the screen is not particularly high.
Project Crystal diverges from the conventional keyboard setup and incorporates one of Lenovo’s touch-based replacements, reminiscent of those found on earlier Yoga Books. However, it faces familiar challenges. A notable drawback is the lack of tactile feedback, leading to hand drift while typing and consequently reducing accuracy. Lenovo asserts that it will tackle this issue using AI, which will learn a user’s typing habits and make necessary adjustments.
In addition, there are a few other drawbacks such as the presence of only two ports, an older CPU, a weak hinge, and its tendency to accumulate static charge and shock individuals who touch it.
Nevertheless, none of these concerns are particularly significant since it is solely a concept device meant to showcase its innovative display technology, with the remaining features serving merely to package it as a laptop.
