Lenovo’s New Smartphone Projects Touchscreen

Known as Smart Cast, it looks like a typical Android-powered smartphone. It’s small, sleek, features a crisp display, and is packed with powerful hardware. What makes the Lenovo Smart Cast different, however, is its ability to project a touchscreen display. If you look closely at the top of the handset, you’ll notice a rectangular-shaped module. Placing the Smart Cast down in its default position will automatically project the touchscreen display on the surface in front of it, without any additional steps taken by the user.

During its presentation in Beijing, Lenovo executives demonstrated the Smart Cast by playing the piano on a virtual keypad that was projected onto the wall. But you can do more with Smart Cast than play the piano. A spokesperson for Lenovo explained that it can be used to create your own personal movie theater, give presentations, and even play games such Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja by making gestures on the wall.

The Lenovo Smart Cast uses a focus-free laser projector and IR motion sensors. The projector is responsible for creating the digital touchscreen interface, whereas the motion sensors live up their namesake by detecting motion, registering it as various touch and/or gesture commands. We’ve heard of other companies toying with the idea of smartphones with projected touchscreens, but this is reportedly the first one to be officially announced.

“Whereas today smartphones are limited to consuming content, Smart Cast changes the paradigm by giving users a smart phone with built-in laser projector, infrared motion detector and high-performance algorithms. This first ever technology combination opens a new world of interaction,” wrote Lenovo in a press release describing the new technology.

Video: Lenovo Tech World Smart Cast

You can see the Smart Cast in action by clicking the play button above. Around the 50-second mark, the handset projects virtual keypad onto the desk, which the user then plays by touching it with his fingers.

There’s still no word yet on when the Lenovo Smart Cast will be released, but some analysts predict it will happen by the end of year.