4 Creative Uses for WiDi

Dell XPS 12 Convertible $1,199.00(When Rated) Dell's cleverly designed XPS 12 Convertible Touch Ultrabook functions as both a laptop and a tablet. It's heavy for the size, but a good performer with a great display.

 

 

If you recently purchased an Ultrabook™ or plan to do so in the future, don’t be surprised to find it equipped with a mysterious-sounding feature: Intel® Wireless Display (WiDi for short). Built to beam video from your Ultrabook to your TV, WiDi dispenses with the cable you’d normally need to bridge the two, instead relying on specialized wireless technology. Why would you want to do that? Actually, the possibilities are pretty endless. And fun, too, if you push WiDi’s capabilities to the edge.

 

Here’s a look at four fun and creative ways to use WiDi around the house, all of them guaranteed to make your Ultrabook an even more indispensable member of the family.



Ever notice how in every sci-fi movie, the homes of the future all have walls with ever-changing scenic landscapes? One minute it’s the calm blue ocean, the next a gorgeous mountain view, and so on. Scientists haven’t quite invented LCD wall paint, but you can enjoy the next best thing by pairing your Ultrabook with a WiDi-capable projector.

 

For example, LG’s PA70G and PB60G both have the technology built right in—ostensibly for running PowerPoint presentations without wires, but way more fun for trying to recreate “Back to the Future: Part II.” Once you have the hardware, all you need is spacious blank wall—preferably painted white or light gray—and some kind of slideshow program stocked with scenic wallpapers. Dim the lights, then kick back and enjoy your sci-fi scenery wall.



If you have young kids, you can entertain them for hours by pairing your WiDi-equipped Ultrabook with your big-screen TV. For the simplest bit of fun, just activate the Ultrabook’s Webcam, then point it at the kids while they’re facing the TV. Presto: They’re on television, able to see themselves jump, dance, and just plain goof around. (Consider a pair of earplugs for yourself.)

 

You could take this a step further, having the kids narrate or act out a family-vacation slideshow or movie. Keep them guessing by not telling them what slide or scene is coming up next. Cooler still, let them create a play that uses the TV as an interactive backdrop, with their own chosen photos driving the story. Once they see how the computer links with the TV, they’ll probably come up with lots of other fun ideas as well.



You’ve already learned one benefit of pairing an Ultrabook with a WiDi-enabled projector. Now let’s take the tech to the office, where you can liven up traditional PowerPoint presentations by adding elements of touch.

 

Specifically, if your WiDi-equipped Ultrabook has a touchscreen, like the Dell XPS 12 Duo, think about some creative ways to leverage it in your next slide deck. For example, you could make your presentation interactive, pausing every few slides to ask a yes/no or multiple-choice question. Then you slide your Ultrabook to someone in the group and ask him to tap an onscreen answer button. That action triggers the next slide—kind of like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but in presentation form. For the next interactive question, someone else gets to tap. And so on. Simple enough, but this kind of simple touch-trick will engage your audience like few other presentation tools can.



We’ve all been there: Someone mentions a cool YouTube video, and suddenly everyone has huddled around the computer to watch it. Then someone else says, “If you liked that, you have to check out thisone.” And on and on it goes, creating a killer party game that’s unbeatable for laughs, conversation, and even breaking out new dance moves (the inevitable outcome of watching Psy’s “Gangnam Style”).

 

Of course, it’s less than ideal to crowd around a laptop’s comparatively small screen, especially when you’ve got a large group. But with an Ultrabook and WiDi, you can share the YouTube goodness on your TV. And it’s much easier to search for and queue up videos using a Web browser and keyboard than it is with a game console’s one-letter-at-a-time controller

 

WiDi might just sound like a kissing cousin to Wi-Fi, but in reality it’s a fun way to enjoy your small screen and your big screen at the same time. Especially if you get creative.