Tag Archives: Apple

Apple acquired eye tracking company SMI for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence

July 13^th, 2017, By Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D., CEO and Principal Analyst at Touch Display Research Inc.
Recently, Rumors hold that Apple has acquired Germany-based eye-tracking company SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI). Neither Apple, nor SMI has announced anything yet.

AR, VR, and AI are the next big things. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung, LG, Intel, Qualcomm, Facebook are all working on these technologies.

Although Apple hasn’t announce any AR/VR product yet, Touch Display Research forecasts that Apple will release augmented reality (AR) devices in the 2017/2018 time frame.

Figure 1: Apple is getting ready for AR, VR and AI

Source: Touch and Emerging Display monthly report, Touch Display Research, 2016

Sensors are very critical components for augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence devices.

In 2010, Apple acquired voice recognition technology company Siri.

In 2013, Apple acquired Prime Sense which has camera based gesture control technology.

In 2015, Apple acquired VoiceIQ and Perceptio to boost Siri. In 2015, Apple acquired Zurich-based Faceshift, which has technology to scan a person’s facial features to create avatars and other figures that capture a person’s facial expressions in real time.

In 2016, Apple acquired Flyby Media, startup that developed technology for mapping spaces using smart phones.

In August 2016, it is said Apple acquired artificial intelligence (AI) startup Turi Inc. for about $200 million. Turi’s technology could be add into Apple’s Siri and help with human machine interaction.

In 2017, Apple acquired eye-tracking company SMI.

Sensors

There are over 20 types of sensor technologies are used for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. We organized them into 10 categories: touch sensor and touch pad, camera-based gesture control, ultrasound and radar based gesture control, eye tracking, voice recognition, photodiode sensors, proximity touch screen, motion sensor, short-range wireless and other touchless technologies.

Figure 2: Sensor technology categories in the report

Source: Sensors for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence market 2016 Report. Touch Display Research Inc.

All the eye-tracking companies are analyzed and compared in chapter 7. Over 10 Key players– Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung, Facebook, etc.–are analyzed one-by-one in Chapter 16.

Touch Display Research forecasts that sensors for AR, VR, and AI market will be $97 billion in 2017, and will reach $160 billion in 2022. The $160 billion opportunity will be gobbled by over 200 sensor suppliers and integration companies.

The “Sensors for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence market 2016 Report” is available immediately and includes a PowerPoint file (over 320 pages) and an Excel database.

PowerPoint file	>320 pages
Excel database	Profiles >200 companies. Market forecasts to 2022. Units, ASP, Revenue
Published time	May, 2016
Price	$5200 for company with <5 user. $5900 for company with 5 or more users

Thanks for reading.

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team

About Touch Display Research Inc.

Touch Display Research, Inc. (www.TouchDisplayResearch.com) is an independent technology market research and consulting firm specializing in touch screen and emerging display technologies such as OLED displays, OLED lighting, flexible displays, e-paper displays, ITO-replacement, Active pen, 3D displays, near-eye displays, pocket projectors, quantum dots, gesture controls, voice controls, and eye controls. Touch Display Research provides standard reports, consulting projects, and due diligence for touch suppliers, display manufacturers, consumer electronics ODMs/OEMs, material suppliers, investor companies, venture capitalists, and companies who are merging or acquiring companies in the touch screen, display, and materials industry. We are member of FlexTech Alliance, SEMI and SID.

Apple announced iPad Pro and Active pen market

June 6, 2017, by Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D.

As we forecasted in the “Active pen 2017 report” five months ago, Apple would release a 10.x inch iPad Pro with active pen in 2017. Our forecast became a reality within 5 months, as Apple just announced two new iPad Pro: the 10.5 inch version and the 12.9 inch version yesterday. The new iPad Pro will be available next week.

Figure: Active pen 2017 report

Source: Touch Display Research, January 2017

The active pen industry landscape has changed dramatically in the recent 3 years: Companies actively working on active pens has increased from 60 companies in 2014 to over 120 companies in 2017. These over 120 companies’ profiles are in the excel database. The strengths and weaknesses of key players are analyzed in this report.

The Active Pen 2017 Report provides the detail pen technologies analysis of 21 types of pen: 13 active pen and 8 passive pens.

There is no perfect active pen yet in the market. The 10 key characters of an ideal active pen are analyzed in chapter 8.

Chapter 5 also discussed how to reduce display signal noise for touch and active pen.

This report provides not only the outlook for active pen and penetration in touch devices, but also provide Bill of Material (BOM) analysis of active pen module for “pen only” and “pen and finger” touch in chapter 7.

Over 100 devices with active pen are compared side by side with pen technologies and pen suppliers in the excel database.

Touch Display Research forecasted the active pen market will grow rapidly in the next several years.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team

CNBC article: Apple and Samsung probably need each other — these curved screens show why

August 30, 2016

Here is a nice article written by Anita Balakrishnan from CNBC on August, 25^th, 2016.

Touch Display Research is quoted in the article regarding OLED displays, Apple and Samsung.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team

Google accelerates voice recognition devices

May 18, 2016

Today Google announced the Google “Home”, a voice recognition device that will compete with Amazon’s Echo. Similar to Echo, the Google Home could respond to users voice commend, play music, control the smart thermostat Nest, search the internet etc. It’ll be available by end of 2016. Price is not announced yet.

Figure: Google Home

Source: Google

On the same day, Google also announced two voice control based apps: Allo and Duo. Both tap into Google Assistant platform. Google claims their Google Assistant platform is the best voice recognition system.

Voice recognition is also called voice command, or voice control. It is a very critical component for augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence devices. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook are all working on this technology.

In the newly published “Sensors for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence market 2016 Report,” Touch Display Research analyzed over 30 companies working on voice recognition. This report also analyzed the other 20 sensor technologies for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) market. These sensor technologies include: camera-based gesture control, ultrasound and radar based gesture control, eye tracking, voice recognition, photodiode sensors, proximity touch screen, motion sensor, short-range wireless, other touchless technologies, touch sensor and touch pad.

Figure 2: Sensor technology categories in the report

Source: Touch Display Research Inc., May 2016

Over 200 companies working on sensors, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), are profiled in the Excel database.

The “Sensors for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence market 2016 Report” is available immediately and includes a PowerPoint file (over 300 pages) and an Excel database.

You can subscribe on our website: www.touchdisplayresearch.com in the Market Research Report page or contact us by email: jc@touchdisplayresearch.com

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

The funniest moment at Quantum Dots Forum 2016

March 10, 2016, by Jennifer Colegrove

Quantum Dots Forum 2016 is hosted by Smithers APEX in the beautiful Island Hotel at NewPort Beach, California. The conference co-chair is Dr. Seth Coe-Sullivan, CTO and co-founder of QD Vision, and Dr. Johnny Steckel, lead technologies at Apple.

On behalf of Touch Display Research, I gave a presentation about quantum dot display and lighting market yesterday.

Today is day-2 of the Quantum Dots Forum 2016. After the breakfast, the audiences sat down in the ball room. But only Seth was on the stage at 8:05am when the conference supposed to start according to the agenda. So, Seth started the day-2 and said, “Welcome to the 2^nd day of the Quantum Dots Forum 2016. Everybody is here, except my co-chair.” All the audience laughed. Then Seth went on and introduced the first speaker, Mr. Jason Hartlove, President and CEO of Nanosys.

Figure: Nanosys CEO- Mr. Jason Hartlove gave presentation at QD Forum 2016

Photo by: Jennifer Colegrove, Touch Display Research

While Jason was giving his presentation, co-chair Johnny arrived and quietly walked on stage and sat beside Seth.

After Jason’s presentation. Co-chair Johnny introduced the 2^nd speaker, Mr. Steve Reinhard, VP of Nanoco. And Johnny added, “Steve, it’s great to have you join us.” Steve immediately responded with a smile, “It’s great to have YOU join US.”. All the audiences laughed again, Johnny laughed with a red face.

Figure 2: On stage: Mr. Steve Reinhard, VP of Nanoco, conference co-chair Dr. Seth Coe-Sullivan, CTO and co-founder of QD Vision, and co-chair Dr. Johnny Steckel, lead technologies at Apple.

Photo by: Jennifer Colegrove, Touch Display Research

People in our quantum dot industry worked hard, and when we have a chance, we make a big laugh too.

More review of Quantum Dots Forum 2016 will be found in the Touch and Emerging Display monthly report.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

Apple Pencil and Active Pen Market Forecast

September 9, 2015

Today Apple announced its new iPad Pro with an active pen, which Apple branded it as “Apple Pencil”.

Figure 1: Apple pencil announcement

Photo by: Techcrunch.

One year ago, in Touch Display Research article published in SID Information Display Journal July/Aug 2014 issue, Dr. Jennifer Colegrove wrote, “In 2007, when Apple released the first iPhone with a projected-capacitive touch screen, it had the benefit of multi-touch, zero-force touch, good durability, etc. Referring to the first iPhone at the Macworld Expo in 2007, Steve Jobs told his audience, “Nobody wants a stylus. So let’s not use a stylus. We’re going to use the best pointing device in the world. We’re going to use a pointing device that we’re all born with – born with 10 of them. We’re going to use our fingers.” Job’s point of reference for this statement was the old resistive touch pen. Since 2011, Apple has been investing heavily in active pens, and it’s my strong belief that Apple will release an active pen soon.”

Now, 14 months later, our forecast becomes reality.

While finger touch is intuitive, active-pen writing is accurate, easier, and can add a personal touch. Pen input is very useful in education and in certain types of language input, as well as in medical, financial, industrial, and content creation or markup applications. Touch Display Research defines an active pen as one with an electronic circuit. Some active pens have an integrated battery in them, some not. A passive pen has neither an electronic circuit nor a battery. According to our research, there are nine types of active-pen technologies and six passive-pen technologies, as summarized in figure here.

Figure 2: Active pens and passive pens are compared in terms of technologies, pen tips, batteries, and sensing interfaces.

Source: Touch Display Research, Active pen technologies, supply chain and market forecast 2014 report.

Active-pen technology is superior to passive-pen technology in terms of accuracy, pressure sensing, and ability to draw fine lines. Active-pen usage should therefore experience rapid growth in the next several years. In the Active Pen Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast report, Touch Display Research forecasts that the market for active-pen writing modules (including pen sensor, one pen, and the controller IC) will increase from $931 million in 2014 to $4.17 billion in 2020.

Figure 3. Active pen market forecast to 2020

Source: Touch Display Research, Active Pen Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast Report, 2014

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

SID 2015 advanced and comprehensive exhibitor: BOE

June 8, 2015

SID 2015 DisplayWeek was held in San Jose, California last week. We blogged about the SID Monday Seminar last week.

Here is the summary of exhibitions at SID 2015. This year there were about 195 exhibitors at the show floor. After visit the whole exhibitions for 3 days, my conclusion is that this year one of the most advanced and comprehensive exhibitor is BOE. BOE not only demoed a 10K LCD, (see picture here), but also showed metal mesh touch screen, AMOLED display, quantum dot display and more.

Figure: BOE 82 inch 10K display at SID 2015 DisplayWeek.

Photo by: Touch Display Research Inc.

The interesting thing is that Samsung is no-show at this year’s SID. In the past several years, Samsung had always put together one of the most splendid booth and showcase the “world’s first”, or “world’s largest”, or the “world’s most advanced” at SID. But at this year’s SID, Samsung completely no show, no paper. It seems Samsung is following Apple’s example: no show, no paper at SID.

Figure: Samsung’s booth at last year’s SID 2014 DisplayWeek.

Photo by: Touch Display Research Inc.

More analysis about BOE, Samsung, Apple, OLED, quantum dot, metal mesh, and silver nanowire will be in the “Touch and Emerging Display monthly report”, June 2015 issue.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

Microsoft acquired part of N-trig for the pen

May 7, 2015

Recently, Microsoft acquired part of N-trig. Mr. Stevie Bathiche, Microsoft Surface Distinguished Scientist wrote in Microsoft’s blog: “Today we are excited to have acquired advanced digital pen technology from N-trig Ltd., with whom we’ve partnered closely for several years.”

As we know, N-trig was founded in 1999 with headquarter in Israel. N-trig has received over $120 million funding before. Their old investors include Microsoft. Microsoft hasn’t announce the amount regarding this acquisition yet. Rumors hold Microsoft paid about $200 million to acquire the pen-related part asset of N-trig.

Touch Display Research believe active-pen technology is superior to passive-pen technology in terms of accuracy, pressure sensing, and ability to draw fine lines. In the Active Pen report, Touch Display Research forecasted that the market for active-pen writing modules (including pen sensor, one pen, and the controller IC) will increase from $931 million in 2014 to $4.17 billion in 2020.

Figure. Active pen market forecast to 2020.

Source: Touch Display Research, Active Pen 2014 report.

Touch Display Research believes this is a good move for Microsoft. More analysis about Microsoft, N-trig and Apple can be found in the Touch and Emerging Display monthly report, May issue.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

TDR accurately forecasted 4K OLED TV available time

April 16, 2015

LG has been demonstrating its 65” 4K OLED TV since CES 2014 and had road tour promotions since October 2014 in many cities worldwide. However, it is until Q1 2015, the LG 65” 4K OLED TV is available in the US market. The 65” 4K OLED TV 65EG9600 is selling for $9000 currently. Another similar model is selling for $12000 currently. LG’s website also indicated the 77” 4K OLED TV is coming soon.

Figure: LG 65” 4K OLED TV

Source: LG

Over two years ago, on Jan 25, 2013 press release, we announced that “Touch Display Research forecast Ultra HD (4K) resolution AMOLED TV will be on the market by 2015”. “Although AMOLED with FHD resolution is available currently, 4K is considered the high end for TV resolution, even though 4K content is still limited,” said Dr. Jennifer Colegrove, President and analyst at Touch Display Research. “56-inch 4K resolution is just 79 ppi (pixel per inch), which is easily achievable. The challenges are how to increase yield, have good uniformity, have long lifetime, and reduce the manufacturing cost.”

Now with LG’s 65” 4K OLED TV commercially available, our forecast becomes reality in 2 years.

Figure: We accurately forecasted 4K OLED TV available time

Source: Touch Display Research Inc. April 2015

Over a year ago, in the “Touch and Emerging Display report”, June 2013 issue, page 45, we forecasted “Apple will adopt AMOLED within 18 months”.

Now with the Apple Watch announced, our forecast becomes reality in 18 months.

Touch Display Research has a good reputation of accurate forecast. In January 2013, Touch Display Research gave a presentation at the SID Bay Area one-day conference, we forecasted “Samsung will release curved AMOLED on a device that is larger than 5” by end of 2013.” (SID Information Display chief editor Stephen Atwood wrote about our forecast in his article in Information Display Journal March 2013 issue.)

In October 2013, Samsung announced the Galaxy Round with curved AMOLED display. One month later, LG also announced the G Flex. Our forecast became reality in 9 months.

Sorry about tooting our own horn, but these are the facts. We are good at OLED forecast.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

Apple beats Dell at 27” 5K

October 16, 2014
4K TV has been in the market since 2012. 4K display monitor also entered the market since 2013. Thus 4K resolution is not “very advanced” by now. What “wow” people now is 5K and 8K displays. As we covered in “Touch and Emerging Display” January 2014 report, several companies have demonstrated 5K display or 8K displays.
Today, Apple announced its new iMac All-in-One PC with a 5K (5120X2880=14.7 million pixels) retina display. The Retina 5K display has four times more pixels than the standard 27-inch iMac and 67 percent more pixels than a 4K display.
The iMac with 5K display is shipping now at $2499.

Figure. Apple iMac all-in-one PC with 27” 5K LCD

Source: Apple Inc., Oct, 2014

Dell announced a 27” 5K LCD monitor last month, in September 2014, but indicated “The Dell UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K Monitor is USD $2,499.99 and will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.” It’s not available yet today. Therefore, Apple beats Dell at 5K.

Which other companies are shipping 5K? How did Apple achieved 30% power saving?
More analysis and comparisons will be in the “Touch and Emerging Display” monthly report.

Thanks for reading,
Jennifer and team