Source: The Next Web
Most display pixels and camera sensors remain separate components, forcing devices to carry dedicated hardware for each function. A bidirectional pixel that switches between light emission and absorption could compress the optics stack in phones, tablets, and laptops—reducing thickness, cost, and component count while enabling always-on video conferencing or eye-tracking without sacrificing screen real estate. This matters because every millimeter of saved space and every gram of weight reduction compounds across billions of devices, and repurposing existing pixels for sensing creates new possibilities for always-aware interfaces that don't require the user to activate a separate camera.