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In a groundbreaking advancement for augmented reality technology, ������ researchers have developed a novel dual-sided transparent display that could revolutionize how we interact with digital information in everyday environments.

The research, published in , emerged from a collaboration between Kent State and Toyota, who approached the university seeking innovative solutions for electric vehicle windows.

“They needed a new type of car window for the electric vehicles,” explained Deng-Ke Yang, Ph.D., a professor with Kent State’s Department of Physics and the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute. 

“Under normal conditions, the window is transparent, just like a piece of glass. But if information is needed, it can display information on the window.”

What makes this technology unique is its dual-sided capability. 

“The information displayed for the people inside is different from the information displayed on the window for outside views,” Yang told Kent State Today.

The potential applications extend beyond automotive use. 

“This new technology is suitable for automobile windows and also can be used for stores,” Yang said. “For example, you have an ice cream shop – the information displayed for the people walking inside could show what kind of ice cream the customer ordered, and for the customers outside, they can see prices.” 

The project, which took about a year and a half to develop, represents a significant collaboration between the university and industry partners. 

“Toyota was very supportive,” Yang said. “We had constant communications with biweekly teleconferences where we reported progress.”

While the technology shows great promise, there are still challenges to overcome before it reaches consumers. 

“For real application in cars, it has to work in a wide range of temperatures, from minus 20 degrees to plus 80 degrees,” Yang said. “We have to expand the working temperature regions of the display and make it suitable for large volume production.”

The technology builds upon Kent State’s historic leadership in liquid crystal research, which dates back to the creation of the Liquid Crystal Institute in 1965, the first research center of its kind in the world.