SPUD: The Spontaneous Pop Up Display

spud

In today’s world, being able to stay up to date on news, family and friends, and work while on the go is absolutely essential. Great advances in technology have allowed people to stay connected while mobile, using smartphones, tablets, and laptops. However, there are many occasions when the smaller screens of these devices are simply inadequate. For presentations, watching movies with friends, or working, even the screen of a laptop may be too small.

For this reason, one growing industry in the technology field is portable screen technology. These screens fold into convenient sizes, so a larger screen can be easily carried around and connected to other devices. Issues with these screens revolve around their clarity and wrinkles forming from repeated folding.

The SPUD (Spontaneous Pop-up Display) from Arovia aims to provide all the benefits of a large, portable screen without the performance issues. It offers a convenient way to enjoy high quality displays for entertainment, work, and connecting with friends or family.

Arovia

The makers of SPUD, Arovia, are devoted to producing technology that enhances the everyday life of its customers. Its team is composed of highly qualified and motivated individuals spanning a wide range of fields.

Team

  • Alexander Wesley is Arovia’s CEO and one of its founders. His vision for SPUD was developed while working as a product manager for optical technologies. He holds several degrees, including a Masters in Optical Engineering and an MBA from Rice University.
  • George Zhu is the company’s CTO and another founder. He also holds a degree from Rice University, and has a wealth of experience in mechanical engineering from working in China’s technological hub, Shenzhen. His engineering has brought Alexander’s vision to life.
  • Justin Mintzer works as the CMO and helped found Arovia. With his MEE and MBA degrees, Justin is an expert in customer satisfaction and marketing. He has over 10 years of experience in the industry.
  • Mark Kimbrough is the award-winning designer of SPUD. He has had a remarkable career, with over 20 patents and 6 products on display at the Chicago Museum of Design and Architecture.
  • Julie Bentley contributes one of the most vital aspects of SPUD: its optical technology. She is currently a professor at the University of Rochester.
  • Erik Welsh leads the electrical engineering design for Arovia. His MEE degree and nearly 15 years of industry experience make him a valuable asset for SPUD’s software design.

Timeline

A considerable amount of time and effort has gone into SPUD’s development. The Arovia team is dedicated to providing only the highest quality product for its customers.

In November of 2014, the initial concept for the screen was introduced. The next several months were spent developing its technology, leading to the first prototype being created in April of 2015. This prototype received extensive testing throughout 2015.

A major milestone occurred in January, 2016, when SPUD received the National Science Foundation Grant. The product has seen many prototypes, with its 9th and final prototype coming in September, 2016.

The product’s final details will be inspected in April of 2017, allowing it to be mass produced in May and delivered in June.

Funding

Although the Kickstarter campaign was launched in November and continues into December, it has already surpassed its goal. The value of this screen technology has been recognized by 876 backers who have contributed over $330,000 (more than ten times its goal) to the campaign.

SPUD

SPUD is an expandable, durable, and flexible screen. It can connect to just about any device either wirelessly or through an HDMI cable, giving even smaller smartphones the ability to be viewed on a large screen.

This screen offers high resolution display to ensure a clear and sharp image. When folded, it is very compact. When expanded, it is much larger even than laptop screens. Anyone looking to better enjoy movies or be productive while on the go will love this easy-to-use screen.

Display

Of course, the most important aspect of SPUD is its display. While very compact when folded, the screen can expand to 24 inches (diagonally). This means it offers 4 times the screen area of a 13-inch laptop.

With an impressive 1280×720 resolution and custom optical design that brings the projector closer to the screen, SPUD offers exceptional display quality without necessitating dim lighting. Further, its screen is designed to expand and fold completely and thoroughly. This means that SPUD will not develop wrinkles like other expandable screens.

Portability and Durability

What separates SPUD from other projectors is its ability to be enjoyed on the go. When folded, this screen is no bigger than the size of an average book. It is easy to store in a backpack or even carry in a pocket. It is also exceedingly easy to expand. With arms that contract like an umbrella, the screen expands in a single motion.

In addition to its small size, it is also exceptionally light. Despite expanding to a large 24 inches, SPUD is not even 2 pounds in weight. It can be used at home, work, the park, or any other location.

Many people would worry about bringing a screen around with them. However, SPUD does not use a breakable glass screen. Instead, it uses a flexible polymer to prevent any cracks. An additional benefit of this material is that it can be easily washed.

Connectivity

A portable screen that is large, durable, and offers exceptional display is a great asset. However, it would not be practical if users were unable to connect it to their devices. For this reason, SPUD offers simple connectivity for a variety of devices.

Firstly, SPUD can connect to any device that has HDMI compatibility. This means that users do not have to depend on a wireless connection if they are unable to find one. However, most users will love the wireless capabilities of the screen, which can be used to connect smartphones, tablets, and laptops to SPUD. Using just about any wireless adapter (like Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV) can connect smaller screens to SPUD in an instant.

Price

Buyers who act quickly can enjoy the discounted prices available on Kickstarter. A SPUD screen can be had for only $349 for early purchase, while the screen is set to retail at $499. The exceptional quality of this product makes it more than worth its reasonable price.

Specs

Screen

  • Width: 21 inches
  • Height: 11 inches
  • Diagonal: 24 inches
  • Depth: 14 inches

Display

  • Resolution: 1280×720
  • Brightness: 350 nits (normal use), 785 nits (bright use)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Collapsed Size

  • Width: 5.64 inches
  • Length: 7.52 inches
  • Height: 2.17 inches

Connectivity

  • HDMI
  • Wireless

Battery Life

  • 4 hours at 785 nits
  • 10 hours at 350 nits

Conclusion

Portable screens are excellent tools for enjoying entertainment, connecting with friends or family, and working on the go. However, many projectors require walls or perfect lighting. SPUD offers exceptional quality without these limitations. As well, it can fold to the size of a book for incredible portability and convenience.

In addition, the screen can connect to a variety of devices. Users will love that devices can connect through both HDMI and wireless adaptors. It is a truly convenient, enjoyable, and thoughtfully-designed product.

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