Lenovo's Wearables Vision Includes a Dual-Screen Smartwatch

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When it comes to smartwatches, two screens are better than one according to Lenovo.

During the Lenovo Tech World event in Beijing today, the company unveiled new mobile, wearable and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that offer a look into how the company known for ThinkPads plans to navigate a rapidly-shifting IT landscape. One way is evolving smartwatches from wrist worn notification centers into feature-packed mobile devices in their own right.

The company’s Magic View smartwatch concept – “the first smartwatch with two screens” boasts Lenovo – features a conventional screen and a new virtual interactive display that employs optical reflection technology to simulate a screen 20 times the size of the main watch face. With a more generous canvas on which to display information, the watch can provide more immersive experiences like following a map or viewing videos, according to the company.

Similarly, Lenovo is also working to create new productivity experiences that extend beyond the confines of a smartphone’s compact touchscreen.

Lenovo’s Smart Cast concept packs a laser projector and infrared motion detector into a smartphone. “Users can project a large virtual touch screen onto a table to type with a virtual keyboard and work with specific productivity apps,” said the Lenovo in a statement. The company also envisions that the technology will be used to project videos on a wall or conduct gesture-based presentations.

In terms of more attainable technology, Lenovo announced the ThinkPad 10 tablet. Powered by a quad-core Intel Atom processor and running Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 operating system, the business-centric 10-inch tablet will feature optional LTE connectivity, built-in encryption and support for the company’s ThinkPad Pen Pro stylus when it goes on sale this summer.

On the IoT front, Lenovo showcased innovations from ShenQi, an independent venture launched last year by the Chinese technology giant, including a Wi-Fi-based smart home control center. Lenovo’s own IoT contribution is another wearable, the Smart Shoes concept. An example of the company’s cloud-backed IoT ecosystem, accessible via an open software development kit (SDK), the footwear tracks and analyzes fitness data, provides GPS guidance and relays the wearer’s mood on their display.

The devices, and several others unveiled today, are peeks into the company’s plans to evolve from its PC roots and emerge as a provider of mobile and IoT solutions. “We will bring together hardware software and services to transform the user experience,” said Yang Yuanqing, CEO of Lenovo, in a statement. “This is our vision, and we showed some glimpses of the next wave of Lenovo innovation here today.”

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