Displair, a startup from Astrakhan, Southern Russia, developing non-screen visual display technology, walked away with the Best Technovation and Best Marketing awards at the Technovations Cup. This national innovation competition was held on November 11 at the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
The DisplAir application is an interactive non-screen display which ‘floats’ in mid-air. The ‘air screen’ consists of vapor particles which do not leave any traces of moisture. It can be seen, heard, smelled and touched. Images on the display can be static or animated, in 2D or 3D.
The device, which was shown to the public earlier this fall at the St. Petersburg International Innovation Forum, shows potential for use in advertising, entertainment, education, and medicine. For instance, the multitouch management of the image creates opportunities for brands to promote new products with visual, tactile and olfactive experience. Special offers from retailers, announcements of public events, ‘air’ menus in restaurants can be displayed as well.
The Russian startup has strong international competitors like Finnish FogScreen or US Heliodisplay. “But our device is clearly superior in functional terms with significantly lower production costs,” said Displair founder Maxim Kamanin in an exchange with East-West Digital News. “The device may cost as little as a few thousand US dollars when manufactured in large quantities.”
Displair has been producing and selling its first prototypes since 2010. As a result of winning this contest, the company will receive a cash prize of 150,000 rubles, or approximately $5,000, and a certificate for service for 100,000 rubles, or $3,000, from First Patent Company.
Ten startups were nominated as finalists from a total of 261 applicants at the contest, which was held with the support of the Russian Venture Company, Rusnano, VTB Capital and other players.
Update Dec. 1, 2011: Displair won another nationwide contest organized by Innovate Russia, a government sponsored innovation program also known as the ‘Zvorykinskiy Proekt’.
