Pixel Qi Sunlight Viewable Tablets by SOL Computer Displays at CES 2012

Pixel Qi makes dual-mode LCD displays that can be viewed outdoors in direct sunlight using nothing but ambient light. In full color LCD mode they still look better outdoors than a typical screen, but you can also cut the backlight entirely and use the screens in a high-contrast, nearly black and white mode that uses as much as 80 percent less power.

The company has been showing off its display technology for the past few years, but few consumer products have shipped with pixel Qi screens. The Notion Ink Adam tablet was available with an optional 10 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel Qi screen, and the OLPC XO 3.0 tablet will also be available with a pixel Qi display. But the display company has also achieved success with more specific markets where outdoor readable display is a necessity rather than an option.

At CES, Sol Computer is showing off another 7-inch tablet models having the Google Android and Windows operating system platforms on 1024 x 600 pixel Qi displays. Some of the implementations of Pixel Qi we’ve seen in the past have suffered from glossy screens or other overlays that have led to a less than ideal experience. While it’s easy to think of a display as a single piece of glass, there are actually multiple layers including the touch panel.

These tablets perfectly suited for those who work outdoors in bricks and sunny environment who don’t really want to deal with glare. The pricing for such tablets hasn’t been released but they are expected to cost not less than $1000.

via liliputing