Lenovo unveils world’s first transparent laptop

Many science fiction movies and stories feature see-through device screens. The futuristic gadget may reveal its interface with transparent glass or project it on floating projections. However, how practical might such a device be in real life? Fortunately, a Chinese-American tech firm recently unveiled a concept for this fantastical device.

Lenovo unveiled its concept for the world’s first transparent laptop at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. It calls the device the “ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop,” a 17.3-inch notebook with a see-through screen. Would you be willing to use such a device daily? Let’s explore its features and find out!

What do we know about the transparent laptop?

The Transparent Display Laptop projected its interface on a glass screen. Unlike other laptops, it will let you see everything behind your display.

It may seem like a cool sci-fi gadget at first. After all, you don’t often see a laptop with a see-through display! Even better, the keyboard is see-through, too!

The Lenovo concept’s keyboard is a projection on an attached flat surface. It detects fingers touching the keys, letting you type with the projected buttons. 

The Verge also showed a separate transparent keyboard that turns off when you bring a stylus close or step away from it. This sensitive feature might be for digital artists.

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Tom Butler, Lenovo’s executive director of ThinkPad portfolio and product, told The Verge the transparent laptop might help digital creators.

“I am not a good artist, but I can bring something behind and I can trace it,” said Butler. Also, he pitched the idea of an architect using the concept computer to sketch a building on location without taking their eyes off the environment.

Lenovo hasn’t confirmed it will release transparent laptops to the market. However, Butler has “very high confidence” that this concept may become a feature for future laptops.