Tiny digital projectors for cellphones and portable media players are in the works, able to project video on any smooth surface.

The microprojectors, still in prototype, use light-emitting diodes, lasers or a combination of the two to cast a display of up to 50 or 60 inches, or perhaps even wider, in darkened spaces and 7 to 20 inches or so when there is ambient light.

Later, the projector modules will be directly embedded in cellphones and other devices.