60 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Because Apple's marketing department says you want them and (by pure coincidence) so do all the ads and influencers on the internet.
Mon's user avatar
  • 17.1k
30 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

It is a heads-up display for augmented reality That is, it shows real-time data overlaid over the real-world objects you can see through the screen. While this is of limited usefulness for a fixed ...
Dale M's user avatar
  • 1,043
24 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

I gather that present-day LCD monitors are already naturally transparent; we choose to put opaque backings on them because we generally don't want light from behind to interfere with the image. So the ...
Christopher Bennett's user avatar
13 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

As a practical reasons: 1: If we assume you are on some form of Vessel or ship - then all the information on the tablet is already authorized to be viewed by anyone on the vessel. If you consider an ...
TheDemonLord's user avatar
  • 24.7k
13 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Holograms It just looks like a transparent screen, but in reality it's a 2D hologram. Meaning that there is no actual matter at the location of the display. Society has gotten used to holograms. As ...
subrunner's user avatar
  • 4,470
11 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

First, the technical reason: the glass tablets are just a monomolecular glass slab with a tiny, tiny circuit embedded into it. They are next to indestructible in normal circumstances, do not scratch, ...
Going Durden's user avatar
  • 2,187
9 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Because the devices are multi-functional. A tablet is just one of their functions, being two sides is useful for their other modes. For example, you can place them on a desk stand and use them as a ...
Aaargh Zombies's user avatar
8 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysophobia We already today have a fear of germs and dirt and this can only accelerate in a utopian society to the point of hysteria were touching a unsanitary device ...
Pica's user avatar
  • 3,986
8 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Do we really need to pay to add expensive backing to all these high-powered devices? Nobody wants it anyway. Maybe the screen is like a one-way mirror so that it's mostly reflective or at least not ...
controlgroup's user avatar
  • 3,304
7 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

You don't have privacy in real life, only the illusion of it. Anyone can already see whatever porn you are browsing in your smartphone. They can peek over your shoulder, spy you with high up cameras ...
The Square-Cube Law's user avatar
5 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

"Safety" everyone is glued to their devices, they never stop using them. This results in large number of accidents with people walking front of moving things, colliding to other people, ...
Ekaros's user avatar
  • 833
4 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Because of health regulations and recommendations implemented to prevent short-sightedness. Risk factors include doing work that involves focusing on close objects, greater time spent indoors, ...
Piro's user avatar
  • 276
3 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Energy efficiency The LCD can be orders of magnitude more efficient without the backlight. Modern LCDs are not very good in this setup first because of the polarizer that kills more than half of the ...
fraxinus's user avatar
  • 6,547
3 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

No screen needed. It seems to be fashionable, because screens are too bulky and heavy, so a holographic projection into the air is a good idea. I take here the example of the star-wars famous ...
Christmas Snow's user avatar
3 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

It's ultimately your choice, but it all boils down to rule of cool and differentiating their tech from ours. Look, it's see-through! That's not something you see every day! If you want to have ...
viridianskyes's user avatar
2 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Safety: Unlike most modern devices, these gadgets do contain user-serviceable parts inside. People can visually tell which need to be replaced. A rather weak explanation when it comes to monitors. ...
o.m.'s user avatar
  • 115k
2 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

While I don't have an answer for why, really, I do have a modern-day parallel -- several of the default themes for the MacOS Terminal program use a transparent or translucent background so that users ...
arp's user avatar
  • 2,898
2 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Minimalism allowed by new technology Generally if a product can be designed closer to a featureless slab that performs its function as if by magic it will be. We do this already with smartphones. One ...
davolfman's user avatar
  • 389
2 votes

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Situational awareness! Opaque screens block the view. Now yes, if you are looking at the screen, you most probably do not want to see what's beyond in the moment. But being unforgivingly opaque, you ...
nine tales's user avatar
1 vote

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Monopolies have made privacy so expensive that very few can afford it. Already now, some businesses have realised that it's profitable to make a product that has a free version without privacy and a ...
E10987654321's user avatar
1 vote

Why does my futuristic society want transparent iPads and computer monitors?

Are you looking for serious reasons why yes, for it to be yes, or discussing why yes or no? Why yes? Because transparent looks cool and it could be a fad. They could argue over it like we do now. Why ...
Sinus the Tentacular's user avatar

Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible