 Back-to-back comp monitor
 X View, the world's first back-to-back computer monitor technology patented by Chennai-based developers, was unveiled in Chennai on August 31.
The discovery could bring about a sea change in the world, opening possibilities for wide-ranging applications and significant change in the functional usage of computers. It will make it possible for two or more users seated on either side of a notebook or desktop computer monitor to simultaneously view, share and digitally interact with the same content, including web content.
Further, incorporation of simple software features or as plug-ins in proprietary content enables partial masking of content, selective information display, and provides interactive tools and features on any one side, respectively.
X View can also be switched off on one side, for single use.
Talks are on with national and international companies regarding mass manufacture of X View, said the developers in Chennai. Initially, there could be a demand for at least five lakh units within a few months, they said, adding that the first sets could be out in the market in two or three months' time.
The usage scenario ranges from enhancing home computer users' experience - simultaneous Internet surfing and sharing of content by family members to parent-child computer interaction; corporate and professional presentations; sales and marketing; education and training - teacher-student/trainer-trainee interaction; gaming and entertainment sharing.
X View can also be adapted to products where face-to-face communication, digital data exchange and' information sharing with or without interactive capabilities are required such as retail billing and ticketing.
Interestingly, X View is a collaborative effort, the idea for which came from a cardiothoracic surgeon - Chennai-based Dr D Janardhana Reddy of Vijaya Heart Foundation - and has been developed by technocrat-inventor L Narayan, managing director of Silicon Labs Pvt Ltd - a Chennai-based bio-medical engineering company, and his team of engineers. Incidentally, both Dr Reddy and Narayan have to their individual credit other inventions in their respective fields of work.
Dr Janardhana Reddy said, "The inspiration for the product came out of a professional need for explaining complex anatomical/physiological clinical conditions to patients and their families, prior to surgery. Until now, they've had to cluster around my computer. The back-to-back monitors now provide the convenience I was seeking." Indicating the X View's application possibilities, Dr Reddy added, "I will now be using the X View for medical training as well."
On the technology behind the product, Narayan said, "X View compliments the genius of simplicity in the idea. Rather than a case of reinventing the wheel, we took existing TFT screens, put them back-to-back and figured a way to replicate content on both the back-to-back screens. The heart of the invention is a pair of display devices with the necessary drivers for the TFT screens. The second 'slave' display replicates content making it possible to simultaneously view, share and interact with the same content on both sides of the monitor."
Narayan, however, added, "X View could lead to significant new designs of the motherboard for providing simultaneous interactive controls to users on either side of the monitor."
K Sadagopan, management consultant and director, KriativPlanet Pvt Ltd, the company overseeing the commercialisation of the technology, said, "We will license the X View technology as well as develop and market notebook computers, desktop monitors and products with customised features incorporating X View for specific usage such as medical practice, training and for sales and marketing."
He added, "The technical simplicity of the innovation makes its cost only relatively more than a conventional single side monitor. A LCD TFT X View back-to-back monitor will approximately cost an additional Rs 17,000-Rs 20,000."
X View is a collaborative effort involving Dr Janardhana Reddy, Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Vijaya Heart Foundation, who has also developed and patented a number of products used in cardiac care and surgery; SiliconLabs Pvt. Ltd., an innovation led bio-medical engineering company that designs, develops, manufactures and sells state-of-the-art critical care life saving patient monitoring systems, and KriativPlanet Pvt Ltd, a marketing and brand communication consultancy. All three are
Chennai-based.
The future could be multi-screen - using just one mother-keyboard and additional mouses for the cost of just one monitor.
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