Most of the time when you think "projector" you probably visualize a big box with a lens sticking out of one side and vents on the other, innards stuffed with fans to try to keep a smoking hot bulb (or bulbs) from setting the whole thing on fire. Modern projectors are smaller, lighter, and cooler than their predecessors, but if Texas Instruments' latest claims are to be believed, the humble lantern about to take a major leap forward.

Engadget is reporting that TI is about to demo what it's calling a DLP pico-projector to the media. The company's press release indicates it will "fit in your fingertips" and be small enough to be "an integrated component in a mobile device," which basically means your cell phone soon may have a built-in projector (other companies, such as Microvision, are also working on built-in, cell-phone-projectors).

So, instead of trying to view a 150 column spreadsheet on, say, your smart-phone's tiny LCD screen, you could instead project it onto the wall, the floor, or even the back of the head of the blonde sitting in front of you on the bus. While this obviously won't be the ideal means of viewing private information in public situations, a mini-projector paired with a laser keyboard would definitely make for the ultimate in ultra-portable computing.

From Engadget [via PR Newswire]