Smart Display

Smart Display was a Microsoft computing initiative, originally known by the codename Mira, that attempted to turn a portable touchscreen LCD monitor into a wireless extension of a household personal computer. Announced by Bill Gates at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show, the project was based on Windows CE .NET, Wi-Fi networking, and Windows remote-access technology. Microsoft presented it as a way for people to use the capabilities of a Windows XP computer from different rooms of a home: browsing the web, handling email, listening to music, and viewing or editing digital photographs without sitting directly in front of the host PC. The products were designed as battery-powered displays rather than independent computers. Typical units used a 10-inch or 15-inch touchscreen, built-in speakers, an embedded processor, memory and wireless networking. Users entered text through a handwriting-recognition system called Transcriber or through an on-screen keyboard. Some models included a docking station with wired connections for the host computer, keyboard and mouse. The first commercial product was ViewSonic's airpanel V150, a 15-inch device introduced in early 2003. Other manufacturers associated with the platform included Fujitsu, NEC, Philips, Samsung, LG, TriGem and several additional display and component companies. The concept was positioned between a conventional monitor, a tablet computer and a thin client. It could provide a remote Windows desktop around the home, but it lacked the independence of a notebook or handheld computer. Smart Display OS 1.0 generally required a Windows XP Professional host and used a remote desktop architecture derived from Windows Terminal Server. The device could not normally operate on its own, and the host PC was restricted while a Smart Display was connected. Only one display could connect to a host at a time, and simultaneous use of the computer's main monitor was not supported under the initial system. These restrictions were attributed to a combination of licensing and technical resource-management requirements. The initiative faced further practical problems. The displays were relatively heavy for their computing capability, offered battery life comparable to some notebooks, and could not provide meaningful standalone functionality. The wireless connection and remote desktop protocol were not designed for video streaming, limiting multimedia use. Microsoft had initially discussed a target price of roughly US$500, but retail devices reportedly appeared at approximately US$1,000 to US$1,500, placing them above comparable notebooks and weakening the value proposition. Analysts and technology writers also questioned whether the platform had been deliberately constrained to avoid competing with Microsoft's Tablet PC strategy. Microsoft planned later software revisions, including Smart Display OS 1.5 support for concurrent use of the host monitor and a Smart Display, followed by a proposed version 2.0 with additional capabilities such as mobile image processing. Those revisions did not rescue the platform. Microsoft cancelled the initiative on 22 December 2003, after manufacturers had already invested in products and some partners had prepared further models. LG said it intended to continue independently, but no subsequent commercial product is documented in the cited reference material. Smart Display therefore became a brief and unsuccessful consumer technology brand rather than an enduring product category. Its underlying idea of accessing a powerful computer through a lightweight wireless screen later appeared in different forms in remote-desktop products, tablets and ultra-mobile computing devices.

Smart Display originated inside Microsoft under the codename Mira. The project was presented publicly by Bill Gates at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show as part of Microsoft's effort to extend Windows beyond the conventional desktop. Its proposed experience combined a portable touchscreen, wireless networking and remote access to a Windows XP computer. Microsoft described a scenario in which a user could move around the home while retaining access to web browsing, email, music and digital photographs. The platform was built on Windows CE .NET and was later described as Smart Display OS or Microsoft Windows CE for Smart Displays. Its remote-session technology drew on Windows Terminal Server and was intended to transmit the computer interface rather than run a complete desktop environment locally. The hardware generally consisted of a 10-inch or 15-inch LCD touchscreen, an embedded processor, RAM and flash storage, Wi-Fi connectivity and speakers. Text entry was available through handwriting recognition called Transcriber or through a software keyboard. Some products had docks that supplied wired connections for a host PC and traditional peripherals. Microsoft recruited a broad group of technology and display companies during the announcement phase, including AboCom, Fujitsu, Intel, LG Electronics, National Semiconductor, NEC, Philips Consumer Electronics, Tatung, TriGem, ViewSonic, Wistron and Wyse. Smart Display OS 1.0 was subsequently supported by several monitor manufacturers. Commercial products included ViewSonic's airpanel V150, Fujitsu's FMSDP-101, NEC's PK-SD10, Philips' DesXcape and TriGem's Play@PAD, with additional support or product plans associated with Samsung and LG. The platform's central weakness was that it was not a general-purpose portable computer. Smart Display OS 1.0 normally required a Windows XP Professional host. While connected, the display could lock or take control of the host session, and the initial licensing and system design did not permit the primary monitor and Smart Display to be used independently at the same time. Only one Smart Display could connect to a host at once. These restrictions reduced its usefulness in a household with several people or a single shared PC. The devices also could not operate without the host computer, despite having specifications and physical characteristics that invited comparison with handheld computers and notebooks. Performance and economics created additional barriers. The 802.11b connection and the remote desktop protocol were not optimized for streaming video, limiting the advertised multimedia scenario. Analysts also objected to the weight and battery life of devices that offered no standalone applications. Microsoft had discussed a price near US$500, but retail products reached the market at roughly US$1,000 to US$1,500, while some conventional notebooks were available for substantially less. Commentators speculated that Microsoft had restricted the design partly to protect the emerging Tablet PC category from internal competition. Microsoft planned to address some limitations through Smart Display OS 1.5, which was expected to permit simultaneous use of a PC monitor and a Smart Display. The company later shifted attention toward a proposed Smart Display OS 2.0 for late 2004, with possible additions such as mobile image processing. Neither roadmap produced a sustained platform. Microsoft cancelled Smart Display on 22 December 2003, leaving manufacturers with products or planned products tied to a discontinued software ecosystem. LG publicly indicated that it might continue developing Smart Displays without Microsoft's support, but no resulting product is identified in the cited material. The project ended after only negligible market penetration. Its broader concept—remote access to a powerful computer through a lightweight wireless screen—anticipated later developments in tablets, remote desktops and ultra-mobile PCs, but Smart Display itself did not become an enduring brand.

• 2003

  First commercial devices appear

  [1]Smart Displayen.wikipedia.org

  ViewSonic introduced the airpanel V150, the first Smart Display product identified in the reference material.

• 2003

  Microsoft terminates the initiative

  [1]Smart Displayen.wikipedia.org

  Microsoft announced the cancellation of Smart Display on 22 December after the platform achieved negligible market penetration.

• 2002

  Mira is publicly announced

  [1]Smart Displayen.wikipedia.org

  Bill Gates introduced Microsoft's Mira initiative at the Consumer Electronics Show, describing Windows CE .NET-based smart displays for wireless access to Windows XP computers.

• 2002

  Microsoft names the Smart Display software platform

  [1]Smart Displayen.wikipedia.org

  Microsoft began referring to the technology as Windows CE for Smart Displays and Smart Display OS, with support from multiple display manufacturers.

A portable household display that extended the full Windows XP desktop over Wi-Fi, positioned between a monitor, a tablet computer and a thin client.

• Wireless touchscreen display · 2003

  ViewSonic airpanel V150

  The airpanel V150 was the first Smart Display product to reach the market. It used a 15-inch, 1024-by-768 LCD touchscreen, a 400 MHz Intel XScale processor, 32 MB of ROM, 64 MB of RAM and 802.11b wireless networking. The device also included a USB wireless hub for the host PC. It functioned as a remote display rather than as a standalone computer.

• Smart Display monitor

  Fujitsu FMSDP-101

  The Fujitsu FMSDP-101 was one of the manufacturer products associated with Smart Display OS 1.0. Like other devices in the platform, it was designed to provide wireless touchscreen access to a Windows host rather than independent local computing.

• Smart Display monitor

  NEC PK-SD10

  The NEC PK-SD10 was a Smart Display platform product based on Microsoft's Windows CE-powered remote-display technology. It belonged to the initial generation of devices that depended on a compatible Windows XP Professional host.

• Smart Display monitor

  Philips DesXcape

  Philips' DesXcape was among the branded Smart Display products supported by the first platform release. It provided a portable touchscreen interface to a remote Windows computer and did not constitute a fully independent notebook or tablet.

• Smart Display monitor

  TriGem Play@PAD

  The Play@PAD was TriGem's contribution to the first generation of Smart Display products. It used the platform's wireless remote-session model to extend a host PC to a portable touchscreen display.

• 2003

  Cancel the Smart Display initiativeStrategy

  Background

  The products faced restrictive licensing and host-computer requirements, weak multimedia performance, limited standalone functionality and retail pricing above Microsoft's original target.

  Action taken

  Microsoft announced on 22 December that it was ending the Smart Display project.

  Aftermath

  Manufacturers were left with discontinued platform support; LG indicated that it might continue independently, but no subsequent product is identified in the cited material.

  • LG Electronics — LG stated that it would continue with Smart Displays without Microsoft's assistance, although no resulting product is documented.

  Source

• 2002

  Launch the Mira and Smart Display platformProduct launch

  Background

  Microsoft sought to make Windows XP functions available around the home through a portable touchscreen and wireless remote access.

  Action taken

  The company announced a Windows CE .NET-based platform and recruited a group of display, semiconductor and computer manufacturers.

  Aftermath

  The platform reached the market through several manufacturers, but adoption remained negligible.

  Source

1. 1Smart Displayen.wikipedia.org