Samsung Electronics' camera ambitions are far from over. A patent filing registered earlier this month with Korean authorities shows that the company has been toying with a new tool for its cameras: transparent displays.
三星电子(Samsung Electronics)在相机领域的追求远未止步。3月份在韩国有关部门登记的专利申请文件显示,这家公司在考虑为它的相机增加一个新工具:透明屏幕。
'This design is of a digital camera using a transparent display that allows the person taking the photo and the subject of the photo-shoot to look at each other and have direct eye-contact for photo shooting,' according to the filing reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
《华尔街日报》看到的申请文件说:“这个设计是一款采用透明屏幕的数码相机,使照片拍摄者和拍摄对象能够为了拍照而相互对视、直接做眼神接触。”
The device, as seen in the diagram, comes with a body that resembles a compact camera rather than more professionally used digital single-lens reflex cameras that have much bigger image sensors and multiple lens options.
如示意图所示,这款设备的机身像一个紧凑型相机,而不是用途更专业、影像传感器大很多、可以选择多种镜头的数字单反相机。
The main body will simply have a 'wide' transparent display with lens and flashes and it will have a power button on one side, the filing said. No dimensions were given.
申请文件说,主体部分将只是一个带有镜头和闪光灯的大面积透明屏幕,其中一侧将有一个电源按钮。文件没有透露尺寸信息。
Despite a bleak outlook for digital cameras in general due to the advent of smartphones, Samsung has long been trying to crack this market -- one of the few areas where Japanese electronics makers still rule -- as the company gropes for a new growth engine in every aspect it can from its vast lineup of electronics products.
三星利用其庞大的数字产品阵容在各个方面搜寻着新的增长引擎。虽然由于智能手机诞生,数码相机总体上前景黯淡,但三星一直希望打进数码相机市场。这个市场是少数几个仍被日本电子生产商把持的领域之一。
Samsung is the world's No. 1 maker of smartphones, TVs and memory chips, but has seen earnings growth slow significantly in recent quarters with its key mobile unit losing momentum amid a saturating market.
三星是世界上最大的智能手机、电视机和存储芯片生产商,但随着手机市场趋于饱和、导致其至关重要的手机部门失去了动力,它近几个季度的利润增长明显放缓。
Through its camera unit, the company has been experimenting with various ideas, starting with the integration of Wi-Fi into its cameras and going as far as mashing compact cameras together with smartphones to create a hybrid model, currently dubbed the Galaxy Zoom phone. Samsung recently merged its camera division into the mobile unit and does not break out any earnings results for cameras.
三星一直在通过它的相机部门试验各种各样的创意,先是将Wi-Fi整合进相机当中,一直到将紧凑相机同智能手机拼在一起,构成一款目前名为“Galaxy Zoom”的混合产品。三星前不久将其相机部门并入手机部门,不单独公布相机产品的业绩。
It remains unclear how consumers can benefit from using transparent displays while taking photos. The design may remain a concept or evolve into something totally different by the time the product reaches customers, as is the case with many of these patent filings.
目前尚不清楚消费者拍摄照片的时候透明屏幕是否会很给力。这种设计可能还只是一个概念,也可能会在产品面世的时候进化成某种完全不同的东西(很多这类专利都是如此)。
Samsung continues to market its cameras using technologically feasible ones first. The company punched out a 'mini' version of its NX mirror-less camera series on Tuesday at a presser in Seoul where the company's marketing executive for mobile products, Lee Young-hee, was present, surrounded by super models.
三星仍然首推其技术可行的相机。该公司3月份在首尔举办发布会,推出NX无镜头相机系列的“迷你”版,移动产品营销负责人李永熙(Lee Young-hee)在超模簇拥下出席。
As she promoted the company's new 'NX mini' camera to the audience, she asked for volunteers who would like to take a group-selfie with her, emphasizing how taking selfies together is a new trend just like how Ellen DeGeneres did during the Oscar Awards. Taking group-selfies, or 'wefies' as she puts it, will be a new cultural trend.
在向现场观众推销新款“NX mini”相机的时候,她请人自告奋勇上台跟她一起自拍,强调集体自拍已经成为新时尚,就像艾伦・德杰尼勒斯(Ellen DeGeneres)在奥斯卡晚会上的自拍一样。她称为“我们拍”(wefie)的集体自拍将成为新的文化时尚。
'This camera is made for wefies,' she says.
她说:“这款相机就是为‘我们拍’打造的。”