Palo Alto (CA) – Desktop monitors could be going wireless soon with a wireless USB graphics adapter.

DisplayLink and Alereon today said that they will be demonstrating a reference design of their Wireless USB display adapter, which will allow PCs to connect to nearby displays without the need for a cable connection, at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show taking place from January 7 to 10 in Las Vegas.

The device pairs Alereon’s AL5000 chipset with DisplayLink’s network display technology and allows output resolutions up to 1680 x 1050 pixels at and 16.7 million colors as well as what the two companies describe as “smooth DVD video playback and quick responsiveness”. Monitors integrating the technology will be compatible with future notebooks that include a wireless USB chip, the two firms said.

According to Alereon, the AL5000 chipset integrates all of the essential RF circuitry, including synthesizer VCO/PLL, anti-alias filters, LNAs and transmit/receive (T/R) switches, Media Access Controller (MAC) and Baseband Processor (BBP). The chipset is bundled with all the firmware and software drivers necessary to develop a worldwide Wireless USB product covering the WiMedia spectrum from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz.

DisplayLink’s network display technology includes Hardware-based rendering engines and virtual graphics card software that promises 32-bit color graphics with real-time video playback across a USB link. The company said that its compression algorithm and graphics protocol can also transmit graphics over other standard network interfaces such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

We need more waves!

Dec 10, 2007 10:54     

Wireless being all the hype, it really doesn't buy anything for monitors since power still needs a cord and frankly the limitations of the AL5000 which "allows output resolutions up to 1680 x 1050 pixels at and 16.7 million colors" already don't match HD nor are larger models supported (I am currently running 1600x1200 and 1900x1200, and neither would work.) However, I could see a benefit for projectors in the business world. Of course it doesn't say anything about multiple users and distance, so I am not sure how useful it's there either. Needless to say that just because there is no clear (!) relationship between electro-smog and assumed health impact, we still don't need to add wireless just for "convenience".

Tom report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Cool but

Dec 10, 2007 11:06     

Sounds really cool and promising, I would love to eliminate another cable. But I doubt this will incorporate HDCP which means you will never see it work for running HD Movies that are encrypted.
Brian report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

No Security Risk there

Dec 10, 2007 11:12     

Yeah, That'll be the day I give up my wire connection to my monitor so someone in the next room or apartment can see what I see, am I the only one concerned with all the wireless stuff going on? What is wrong with a cord here and there, the monitor still need power so it's not like it gets to be cord free!!!
Hobo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Sounds cool

Dec 10, 2007 11:26     

Only problem is I use 1920x1200 so this version won't work for me. Hopefully they can get it to display higher resolutions at some point.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

usefulness?

Dec 10, 2007 12:17     

I fail to see why this technology is advantageous, you still have to plug the monitors into the power supply so it will not have free range of movement anyway, and monitors are stationary object seems pointless to me
John A report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

finally..

Dec 10, 2007 12:18     

finally here eh? it's about time...
eeto report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Now if I can wirelessly send the signal to my HDTV ...

Dec 10, 2007 12:53     

Now if I can wirelessly send the signal to my HDTV in the other room I can finally watch movies/video streaming needing 50 ft cables running through the house.
Sweet report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

"Now if I can wirelessly send the signal to my HDTV...

Dec 10, 2007 13:07     

"Now if I can wirelessly send the signal to my HDTV in the other room I can finally watch movies/video streaming needing 50 ft cables running through the house. " ... well, go buy a wireless media center... like iTV or those from sony or other companies. it's already out there .
andy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@ Hobo

Dec 10, 2007 13:33     

I completely agree with what he said!!!
Happy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

No one has mentioned discreet graphics

Dec 10, 2007 13:55     

There was something like this rumored the be produced by Matrox in 2002. But the problem is getting the signal from your discreet graphics card to your display. example: from your Nvidia or ATI card to your monitor right from the card. NOT USB and NOT from ONBOARD video. If this works well enough maybe someone in the BIG graphics companies SHOULD pick this up and tweak the snot out of it for use with nVidia / ATI / MATROX discreet graphics. If it only works over USB and only with a matching chipset from the manufacturer, it is useless to me. I need it directly from my discreet card to my monitor. Not from a separate usb/chipset combo on the mobo.

Robert O report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

who need this?

Dec 10, 2007 14:09     

Well most people dont use 19 or bigger monitors at work, and have you seen the back of most desk at an office its a mess. I for one am happy to get rid as many wires as posible. That are the places that need it.think about it IT guys two power cable, no like know my computer now i have 6 wires coming out of the back, multiply that by 24 computers
al report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Television, anyone?

Dec 10, 2007 14:11     

Seriously. It's not that different. Admittedly the range would be a lot shorter, but it's essentially the same thing. It does sound pretty cool, though. I think it'd be pretty useful for things such as showing off that cool youtube video on that new big screen LCD without having to play around with the wiring from your computer to the screen.
zugy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I am an IT guy

Dec 10, 2007 14:54     

Yes think of the IT guys, I can see it now "My monitor won't sync with my computer" "The guy's computer in the cubicle next to me is showing up on my screen" "Every time somebody goes into the lunch room and heats up there lunch I lose my screen" Wireless anything is not IT's friend IMO.
Hobo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

it makes sense

Dec 10, 2007 14:57     

There are wireless keyboards and mice. Now there could be wireless monitors. It is a logical progression and it means one less cable to have around. :)
TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Wireless

Dec 10, 2007 22:34     

Let's have wireless electricity next by emitting 500 watt sparks from the back of the PC to the power strip.
Bob report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Has a few uses....

Dec 11, 2007 03:18     

I can see some uses @ digital signage market...but keep this as a consumer electronic is a silly idea...
Tdog report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Electricity over air

Dec 12, 2007 14:01     

They have actually figured out a way to power things wirelessly too! Check out this link. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/04/01/8403349/
GMAN report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0