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theme-connectedhardwaredisplay technologyoptical sensors

Researchers develop bidirectional pixels for simultaneous light emission and reception

Source: The Register: Biting the hand that feeds

Scientists have created pixels that can both emit and receive light simultaneously, eliminating the traditional tradeoff between display and sensor functions on a single surface. This advancement enables practical applications in AR devices, spatial computing, and interactive displays where real-time environmental sensing and image projection must occur in the same physical space without mechanical switching or dual-layer stacking. Today's AR glasses and autonomous systems require separate emitters and sensors, making them bulkier and more power-hungry. Combining these functions reduces component count and power consumption.

theme-connectedhardwareimagingdisplay technology

ETH Zurich develops pixel that works as both display and camera

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.