HP debuts virtual reality screens and immersive curved displays

Hewlett-Packard is marching into the 2015 International CES tech trade show in Las Vegas this week with three new types of displays: virtual reality, 4K and 5K high-definition, and curved screens for gamers and professionals.

The new monitors show that plenty of innovation is happening in display technology, as computer makers drive breakthroughs beyond better display resolution.

The products include the HP Zr Virtual Reality Display. This 23.6-inch desktop monitor shows 3D images, and you can rotate, manipulate, or navigate them in three dimensions. HP is also using these virtual reality 3D monitors to get ready for a bigger presence in the 3D prototype printing market, said Jeff Wood, the vice president of product management at HP’s commercial solutions business, in a press briefing. The point is to help people design better products by manipulating them in 3D before printing out the prototypes.

“We span the entire spectrum of customers, from home consumers to high-end color-critical professionals,” said Ann Lai, the director of commercial displays at HP, in a press briefing. “Today, we have three new technologies for the display market.”

Above: HP curved display

Image Credit: HP

HP is also introducing high-resolution monitors. It is launching the HP Z27s and HP Z24s 4K Displays and the HP Z27q 5K Display. Those screens go beyond 1080p high-definition resolutions and provide visual details that are at UltraHD resolutions or better.

Above: HP curved display

Image Credit: HP

The company is also launching a series of curved displays. The HP Z34c, HP ENVY 34c, HP EliteDisplay S270c, and HP Pavilion 27c all have curved displays. Those curves wrap around your field of vision and give you a deeper visual and audio experience.

“HP’s new displays complement our goal of delivering new technologies that maximize the visual experience and change the way people work and create,” said Jun Kim, the vice president and general manager of PC displays and accessories at HP, in a statement. “HP displays feature performance, innovation, reliability and outstanding image accuracy that we believe will transform how customers connect and interact using technology.”

The HP Zvr display offers what HP calls “True Holographic Viewing,” letting you manipulate 3D animated objects in real time. The tech is powered by zSpace technology, and it is another example of blended reality, or tech that reduces the barriers between the digital and physical worlds. Wood said it will let people express themselves at the speed of thought without the filters and limitations that technology currently places on them.

Users can interact seamlessly with a high-definition 3D stereoscopic display combined with full-motion parallax and direct interaction. The optional HP zView solution also allows real-time sharing of 3D models to a 2D big screen.

Meanwhile, HP’s two 4K displays and its 5K display increase the viewing of image detail. The 4K displays have a 3,840-by-2,160 resolution on the HP Z27s (27 diagonal inches) and HP Z24s (23.8 diagonal inches) displays. These two 4K displays have a 16:9 UltraHD panel, with 1.07 billion colors.

The HP Z27q Display has a 5,120-by-2,880, 5K wide-color gamut. It delivers seven times more pixels than a classic full HD display. The HP Z27q can display 14.7 million pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio, 300 nits luminance, and 1.07 billion colors.

The HP Z34c, HP ENVY 34c, HP EliteDisplay S270c and HP Pavilion 27c Curved Displays deliver a 3000:1 contrast ratio and 178-degree field of view.

“The curve wraps around you and lets you have a more immersive experience,” Lai said. “You can also have more comfortable peripheral viewing.”

Here’s the pricing and availability details:

HP Zvr expected availability is this spring. No pricing was released. The HP Z27s, and HP Z24s displays are expected to be available worldwide beginning in January and April respectively. U.S. pricing starts at $750 and $550, respectively. The HP Z27q Display is expected to be available beginning in March at an estimated U.S. price of $1,300. The HP Z34c and HP ENVY 34c are expected to be available worldwide beginning in April at an estimated U.S. price of $1,000. And the HP EliteDisplay S270c and Pavilion 27c Curved Displays are available now for $400.