Who among us hasn't dreamed of working on the move, but has always considered the large, convenient monitor of the fixed workstation comfortable? Splay looks like Columbus's egg: the device of the two designers Mark Kimbrough e John Jaworkski it can act both as a mini projector (up to 80 inches) and as an external monitor. The secret"? An ultra-compact foldable display.
The Splay is a pretty unique device, if you think about it. Laptops, tablets and cell phones can extend their field of vision with a set that can easily fit in a backpack. The projector, as mentioned, can be used as a standalone device, allowing you to watch 1080p content on a nice 80-inch surface. However, things get even more interesting with the expandable display that transforms the projector into an external monitor using an inverted umbrella-shaped device that allows you to project images onto a bright 24-inch screen. In my profession I would have no problem calling something like that a “light box”. Ultimately this is it.
Splay, little sassy
Taking advantage of its ultra-short throw, this thing produces an 80-inch screen when positioned just 60 centimeters away, and it also has two pretty good built-in speakers. For relatively small venues it can do an admirable job, considering the fact that its automatic vertical keystone correction system offers straight projection, regardless of the projector's tilt angle.
What about the foldable display? An ingenious solution that attaches to the front of the pico projector, transforming it into a 24-inch external HD screen with 800 nits of brightness. It can act as the first (or second) monitor for all the various devices, with an image comparable to traditional monitors.
Splay projector: front connectivity
Splay is equipped with an HDMI input to connect various devices, as well as a USB output to use it as a power bank or to place on a Fire Stick or a Chromecast. If you're wondering, it also has a USB-C input, to power its internal battery. 4 hours of operation for a full charge: you can do better, but it's not a bad start.
All in all, the entire system (projector plus display) is the size of a smart speaker: it weighs just 1kg (2,5 lbs) and is therefore extremely agile, perfect for carrying around. Splay is currently in crowdfunding on Kickstarter, with deliveries starting in early 2022.
