Seeing magical technology vs. understanding how it works

[Kaido]

I just watched a video from CES 2016 about a transparent, moving screen prototype from Panasonic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RNL62fUdpI

The whole time, the technology blueprint was running through my mind as he was demonstrating it - "hmm, looks like 3M Vikuiti holofoil-type film with a micro-projector behind it, a Leap Motion controller for gesture detection, something like Cortana for voice control, and a motorized vertical blinds setup for the motion."

Then I realized I was watching a dude showing off a transparent TV that adjusted for height on your couch or for your kids, which stored all of your music & photos, and was controlled by your hand or voice. Dang! He's showing off pretty futuristic technology and I'm pretty blasé about it. Kind of weird living in a time where we have amazing technology everywhere and just kind of take it for granted, especially when you're personally into the technology side of things and understand the background of how things like this work - so rather than being a big deal, it's just a unique assembly of existing parts, to some extent. Taking a step back, that looks like something out of Back to the Future, and nobody in the audience was even very impressed.

 

[videogames101]

I think we are numb to technology.

 

[Skeeedunt]

It's your inner cynic bracing you for disappointment.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I don't really see what is that impressive about that?

Based on your description I was expecting some holographic projection that moved based on facial height. What I got was an LCD panel with some vaguely transparent backlight (doubt it is OLED as pretty sure they could've made it much more transparent if it was; also the black levels) so that when part or all of the display is turned off you can kinda see through it, on motorized rails in fixed shelving so that it moves up and down about a foot or two.

Considering they've been talking about (and I believe have even shown off) OLED panels that are in windows and mirrors so you can get "smart display" and even better transparency, I'm not sure why you're surprised people aren't too impressed by this.

Its not just that we take technology for granted, we outright can't escape it so its actively being forced on us in ways we aren't actually wanting. Even average people can look at this and go "cool but its not like there's anything really new going on here".

Even like you posited about a projection setup, there's been plenty of more impressive things done with those. The only real "wow" here is the transparency, but that's really not that impressive (maybe it actually is more impressive but they have an aggressive filter on the front to try and prevent glare).

Give it a few years and we'll have 4K Apple OLED TV that function as mirrors and you can buy frames so that it'll put up high quality "paintings" or pictures.