Explainer: All you need to know about smart projectors – Times of India

Smart projectors come with their own interfaces, operating system, apps and even Wi-Fi connectivity. Users don’t need to connect these projectors to a smartphone, tablet or laptop as it relies on its built-in computer, which can be used to stream content or download apps.
A smart projector is equipped with some special and useful characteristics that separates it from its normal counterparts. Here, we will discuss how they work and how it can be useful for consumers.
How do smart projectors work
A smart projector has a built-in computer inside that can be operated using the on-board interface screen or the projection image itself. The operating system that runs it can be expanded using apps available on the Internet. It can also use the internet to communicate wirelessly with other smart devices using the Wi-Fi network and can also be used for streaming movies and TV shows.
Smart projectors also have built-in speakers that allow users to use it outdoors. Some smart projectors are compatible with voice assistants like Alexa, Cortana, Siri and Google Assistant.
It can wirelessly connect to your gaming console and can get a live feed of what your security camera sees on a bigger screen. Smart projectors use smartphone assistance or its own Wi-Fi camera to conduct video calls.
Most smart projectors use a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lamp as the light source that is used for Digital Light Processing (DLP). Whereas, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projectors used a standard halogen or metal halide lamp. This is because LED lamps last way longer than metal halide or halogen light.
Importance of smart projectors
A smart projector works the same way a smart TV does. It offers bigger screen sizes and is usually portable compared to smart TVs. These projectors can usually connect to smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, computers and other devices through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or some other wireless technology. Portable smart projectors offer maximum amounts of brightness for outdoor usage.
Built-in speakers make it easier for users to do presentations without having the need to carry around a seperate speaker system. Most smart projectors are also voice assistant-enabled and allow users to play video games using it. It can help in home automation, security system support and may even allow users to make video calls with their contacts.
What are the image correction features of a smart projector?
Smart projectors usually have some image correction features that offer the correct image distortions without moving the device. When a projector is projecting an image at an angle or the surface where it is placed is angled, it produces a trapezoidal effect.
This is known as the keystone effect where the lower or upper portion of the image tapers off to an almost flat-top pyramid or keystone. Smart projectors have a digital feature called the keystone correction that helps the device to correct the keystone effect until the image looks square or rectangular once more.
If a projector is poorly aligned, it will project misplaced images onto your screen. The lens shift feature in smart projectors enables the lens to shift vertically or horizontally to properly adjust the alignment. It turns out to be a very important feature when users can’t move the projector physically at all. The lenses of some projectors are also capable of zooming. These lenses are usually equipped with either digital zoom or optical zoom.
Optical zoom works better as it uses the telescopic lens of the projector to magnify or shrink an image to the correct size of your screen without physically moving it. On the other side, digital zoom blows up the digital image, which leads to more pixelation compared to optical zoom. Some smart projectors are also able to customise the size of the image regardless of its aspect ratio.