New Scientist: Next iSight Will Be In the Screen Itself

EnGadget points to this incredibly cool tip from New Scientist Invention columnist Barry Fox about an Apple patent that would revolutionize video conferencing:

We could soon see a new kind of display screen from computer maker Apple – one that simultaneously takes pictures while showing images.

The clever idea is to insert thousands of microscopic image sensors in-between the liquid crystal display cells in the screen. Each sensor captures its own small image, but software stitches these together to create a single, larger picture.

Just think, real eye-contact while video-conferencing on iChat! For that alone, this is an exciting find.

(Image courtesy of Apple)