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computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computer, computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and the development of both computer hardware, hardware and softw ...
, Smart Display (originally codenamed Mira) was a
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...
initiative to use a portable
touchscreen A touchscreen (or touch screen) is a type of electronic visual display, display that can detect touch input from a user. It consists of both an input device (a touch panel) and an output device (a visual display). The touch panel is typically l ...
LCD A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers to display information. Liquid crystals do not em ...
monitor Monitor or monitor may refer to: Places * Monitor, Alberta * Monitor, Indiana, town in the United States * Monitor, Kentucky * Monitor, Oregon, unincorporated community in the United States * Monitor, Washington * Monitor, Logan County, Wes ...
as a
thin client In computer networking, a thin client, sometimes called slim client or lean client, is a simple (low-Computer performance, performance) computer that has been Program optimization, optimized for Remote desktop, establishing a remote connectio ...
for PCs, connecting via
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for Wireless LAN, local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by ...
. Smart Display was announced in early 2002, released in early 2003 and discontinued in December 2003, having never achieved more than negligible
market penetration Market penetration refers to the successful selling of a good or service in a specific market. It involves using tactics that increase the growth of an existing product in an existing market. It is measured by the amount of sales volume of an ...
.Microsoft dumps Smart Display
ZDNet, 6 January 2004


Technology

The Smart Display was a battery-powered 10" or 15" LCD monitor with a touchscreen (similar in size and shape to a Tablet PC), connecting to a PC over an 802.11b WiFi network, with input via ''Transcriber'' (similar to
Graffiti Graffiti (singular ''graffiti'', or ''graffito'' only in graffiti archeology) is writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from simple written "monikers" to elabor ...
) or a pop-up soft-keyboard for text entry, and built-in speakers. Some models had a docking unit with wired PC, keyboard and
mouse A mouse (: mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus'' ...
connectors. The display ran Smart Display OS or Microsoft Windows CE for Smart Displays, based on
Windows CE Windows CE, later known as Windows Embedded CE and Windows Embedded Compact, is a discontinued operating system developed by Microsoft for mobile and embedded devices. It was part of the Windows Embedded family and served as the software foun ...
and
.NET The .NET platform (pronounced as "''dot net"'') is a free and open-source, managed code, managed computer software framework for Microsoft Windows, Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems. The project is mainly developed by Microsoft emplo ...
. The remote technology was based on Windows Terminal Server. Smart Display OS 1.0 would only connect to a
Windows XP Professional Windows XP, which is the next version of Windows NT after Windows 2000 and the successor to the consumer-oriented Windows Me, has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001. Windows XP is available in many languages. In ...
host system, although some reported that any version of Windows could be remote-controlled using NetMeeting. ViewSonic was the first manufacturer to bring Smart Display to the market, with the ''airpanel V150'' in early 2003. This included a 15" 1024×768 LCD, a 400 MHz Intel XScale processor, 32MB ROM, 64MB RAM and 802.11b wireless, and a USB wireless hub for the host PC.


Problems

Analysts flagged the problems with the Mira initiative very early on, as soon as it reached their notice in early 2002. * In Smart Display OS 1.0, the display would lock the host PC to it while in use. Microsoft variously attributed this to licensing issues (that Windows XP Professional was licensed for one user per running copy) and resource management problems. The requirements of licensing – not to allow the devices to work standalone, not to allow the device to connect to the host PC while the PC's main screen was active and not to allow multiple Smart Displays to control one PC – were widely derided in the press. * Only one Smart Display could connect to a host PC at a time, preventing multiple devices being used in households with access to only one PC.Mira gets rugged and magnetic
ZDNet, 13 March 2002
* Although the devices had similar CPU and memory specifications and operating system to a large
Pocket PC A Pocket PC (P/PC, PPC) is a class of personal digital assistant (PDA) that runs the Windows Mobile operating system, which is based on Windows Embedded Compact, Windows CE/Windows Embedded Compact, and that has some of the abilities of modern ...
, weighed as much as a notebook and had similar battery life, they provided no standalone functionality and were not usable without a host PC. Analyst speculation was that Smart Display was crippled so as not to risk cannibalising the Tablet PC market. * Video streaming was not possible – the connection was not fast enough and
Remote Desktop Protocol Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft Corporation which provides a user with a graphical interface to connect to another computer over a network connection. The user employs RDP client software for this pu ...
contained no enhancements to facilitate video. * Microsoft had intended the smart displays to sell at around
US$ The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
500, but the devices eventually reached the market at $1000–1500, whereas comparable notebooks were around $600.


History

Mira was announced by
Bill Gates William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American businessman and philanthropist. A pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, he co-founded the software company Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend ...
at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show: The initial announcement mentioned technology partnerships with AboCom, Fujitsu,
Intel Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and Delaware General Corporation Law, incorporated in Delaware. Intel designs, manufactures, and sells computer compo ...
,
LG Electronics LG Electronics Inc. () is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational major appliance and consumer electronics corporation headquartered in Yeouido-dong, Seoul, South Korea. LG Electronics is a part of LG, LG Corporation, the fourth ...
,
National Semiconductor National Semiconductor Corporation was an United States of America, American Semiconductor manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturer, which specialized in analogue electronics, analog devices and subsystems, formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, ...
,
NEC is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation, headquartered at the NEC Supertower in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It provides IT and network solutions, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Inte ...
,
Philips Consumer Electronics Versuni (formerly Philips Consumer Lifestyle) is a privately-owned Dutch company, headquartered in Amsterdam, which produces consumer electronics and small appliances. Formerly a subsidiary of Dutch electronics conglomerate Philips, it was sold t ...
, Tatung,
TriGem TriGem Computer Co., Ltd. (, abbreviated TG, also known as TGSambo), was a South Korean personal computer manufacturer and technology company. Established in 1980, TriGem was the first Korean company dedicated to manufacturing computer systems. ...
, ViewSonic,
Wistron Wistron Corporation () is an electronics manufacturer based in Taiwan. It was the manufacturing arm of Acer Inc. before being Corporate spin-off, spun off in 2000. As an original design manufacturer, the company designs and manufactures produc ...
and Wyse. Smart Display OS 1.0 was supported by several monitor manufacturers, including
Samsung Samsung Group (; stylised as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational manufacturing Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in the Samsung Town office complex in Seoul. The group consists of numerous a ...
, LG, TriGem, Philips, ViewSonic, Fujitsu and NEC. Products included the Fujitsu FMSDP-101, the NEC PK-SD10, the Philips DesXcape, the Trigem Play@PAD and the ViewSonic airpanel. Smart Display OS 1.5, scheduled for the end of 2003, was intended to allow a PC to connect simultaneously to a monitor and a smart display. Microsoft later changed its timetable to include a release of Smart Display OS 2.0 in late 2004 with additional functions such as mobile
image processing An image or picture is a visual representation. An image can be two-dimensional, such as a drawing, painting, or photograph, or three-dimensional, such as a carving or sculpture. Images may be displayed through other media, including a pr ...
.


Cancellation

After having signed up several LCD manufacturers to work on the initiative, some of whom (such as LG) had Smart Display 1.5 products ready for early 2004 release, Microsoft finally announced the cancellation of the initiative on Monday 22 December 2003. LG stated it would persist with Smart Displays even without Microsoft's assistance, although no products eventuated. It has been suggested that the
Ultra-Mobile PC An ultra-mobile PC, or ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), is a miniature version of a pen computer, a class of laptop whose specifications were launched by Microsoft and Intel in Spring 2006. Sony had already made a first attempt in this ...
(UMPC), code-named Origami, is the evolution of the Smart Display. Smart Display evolves


See also

*
Smart Personal Objects Technology The Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) is a discontinued initiative by Microsoft to create intelligent and personal home appliances, consumer electronics, and other objects through new hardware capabilities and software features. Developme ...
*
Miracast Miracast is a Wireless, wireless communications standard created by the Wi-Fi Alliance which is designed to transmit video and sound from devices (such as laptops or smartphones) to display receivers (such as TVs, monitors, or projectors). It uses ...


Sources


Footnotes


Further reading


Microsoft Unveils Windows CE for Smart Displays Naming
(Microsoft press release, 26 June 2002)

(Matthew Broersma, ZDNet UK, 28 November 2002)

(WindowsForDevices, 26 June 2002)

(David Pogue, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', Thursday 2 January 2003) * ttp://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/monitors/0,39023935,10003760,00.htm ViewSonic airpanel V150 (
Rupert Goodwins Rupert Goodwins (born 23 May 1965) is a British writer, broadcaster and technology journalist. Career He began his career as a programmer for Sinclair Research in the early 1980s, working on the ZX Spectrum ROM. He moved to Amstrad after it bo ...
, ZDNet UK, 15 April 2003)
Microsoft Abandons Smart Display Project, Stranding Domestic Monitor Makers
(Yoo Hyung-jun, ''ETNEWS''
orea Orea is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2004 census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating pop ...
Tue 23 December 2003)
Smart Display Gripes
(Computer Gripes, 6 January 2004)

(Matt Loney, ZDNet UK, 6 January 2004)

(Matt Loney, ZDNet UK, Tuesday 6 January 2004)

(WindowsForDevices, 6 January 2004)


External links

* {{cite web , url= http://www.microsoft.com/windows/smartdisplay/default.mspx , title= Microsoft Windows Powered Smart Display , publisher= Microsoft , url-status= dead , archive-date= 7 May 2004 , archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040507150855/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/smartdisplay/default.mspx Computer output devices Microsoft initiatives Smart devices Windows CE