Swiss scientists created a pixel that turns screens into camera eyes

Swiss scientists have developed a new type of pixel that can simultaneously display and capture images. In the future, this could pave the way for so-called camera-screens, where a device's display functions as both a monitor and a camera at the same time.

Swiss scientists have made a breakthrough in screen technology by creating a pixel capable of doing something previously impossible with existing technology: displaying and capturing images simultaneously. This opens the door to an entirely new class of devices that have until now been considered pure science fiction.

One pixel, two functions

Normally, a screen and a camera are two separate components, one displays an image, the other captures it. Swiss scientists' new pixel combines these two functions into a single element. This means that in the future, a device's screen itself could function as a camera, without the need for a separate camera hole or module.

Such a solution is called a camera-screen. In practice, this would mean that a smartphone or computer monitor could take pictures directly across the entire display surface, not just through a small camera lens.

Why is this needed?

The new technology could significantly change how future devices are designed. Increasing screen area has been difficult for manufacturers precisely because the camera has to go somewhere, forcing either a cutout in the screen or placing the camera elsewhere. A camera-screen would eliminate this problem entirely.

Additionally, it opens possibilities for a completely new type of user interface: a screen that "sees" the user can respond to their movements, gaze, or gestures without separate sensors. This could transform the design of smartphones, tablets, and large monitors.