Handheld projector devices, which let you show off PowerPoint slideshows or endless baby photos on a larger surface, have enjoyed some niche success, but the real power comes from combining them with other technology. One killer example: Microsoft Kinect, which uses a projector and camera to create gesture-controlled games.
Another product already on the market is the Celluon Magic Cube Virtual Keyboard, a $170 add-on for mobile devices that projects a full-size keyboard onto flat surfaces. Reviewers say it's got a learning curve and some quirks, but it's a cool example of how keyboards could evolve.
Just as the iPad created tabletmania, a wave of Apple's magic wand could propel projectors into everyday use. A patent Apple was granted last year suggests that it has considered embedding projectors in its mobile devices and Macs.
"When they do, miniprojection will immediately go mainstream," Forrester predicts.
These 5 creations look to be some of this year's most transformative tech products and services.
