On Tuesday, electronics maker Casio unveiled its Green Slim line of next-generation mercury-free projectors, the first high-brightness data projectors to not use mercury bulbs, at InfoComm 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The new line features an environmentally conscious construction at an affordable price, using an LED hybrid light source instead of traditional unclean mercury bulbs. The upgrade, part of the company's "clean and green" concept, and its lightweight, thin frame, allows the devices to be used in multiple settings, such as in the classroom, workplace and at home.
"Casio's eco-friendly Green Slim projectors demonstrate the company's tradition of developing technologically advanced durable products that meet a variety of needs," said Frank Romeo, vice president of Casio's business projector division. "The advances we have made to provide superior brightness and energy-saving features make it the perfect tool for a variety of applications."
Those looking to upgrade their home entertainment system can use the new devices to obtain a 100" or greater projection. In addition to longer life, the hybrid light source converts blue laser light into green light, solving a problem that had plagued conventional semiconductor light sources. The projector combines red LED, blue laser light and the converted green light to produce brightness levels of 2,000 or more lumens.
With the ability to rotate the projector 90 degrees, businesses can digitally display images in ways that relays their messages to customers most efficiently, without worrying about picture integrity or quality distortion. The new projectors' cost-cutting feature, its hybrid light source, offers businesses nearly 10 times the longevity compared to conventional products that use a mercury lamp.
The new projectors also have a wireless adapter option that enables them to display content from four computers simultaneously, ideal for office presentations or classroom lectures.
The Green Slim projector's high-brightness image projection enhances new technologies already being introduced in classrooms - such as smart boards and e-readers - and provides an eco-friendly way for teachers to relay instruction to multiple students at one time.
Projector sales are expected to grow by 30 percent from last year, according to Pacific Media Associates. The company predicts there to be nearly 8 million front projector shipments in 2010, citing the introduction of LED and hybrid LED/Laser-based models as the catalysts for the surge.
