New HP Products Create Blended Reality

With a mission of bridging the gap between the physical world and the digital world, HP revealed two products on Wednesday that it expects will change the creative workspace.

Dion Weisler, HP’s executive vice president of printing and personal systems, led the launch event, which was held in New York and broadcast online. Citing HP’s desire to create “blended reality,” a combination of the three-dimensional and digital worlds, Weisler announced the development of a new 3D printing technology and platform, and Sprout, a computing system that combines five hardware elements into one.

After Weisler’s introduction, Stephen Nigro, senior vice president of inkjet and graphics business, presented Multi Jet Fusion, HP’s foray into 3D printing. Nigro said that HP sees 3D printing as a technology with exorbitant potential, but one with roadblocks. With Multi Jet Fusion, he said 3D printing will be faster, of greater quality and will come at a lower cost.

“[3D Printing] is slow, can get high quality, but only with expensive products and the cost is too high to drive transformation,” Nigro said. “We’re going to change those limitations.”

Nigro explained Multi Jet Fusion’s use of a page-wide print bar that jets approximately 350 million drops per second at 21 micron precision. He compared this to the two to four micron image size used in laser sintering, another 3D printing technology.

To have the technology fully ready for the expected 2016 release, Nigro said HP will be using an open customer engagement program. Through this program, HP will allow users to work with the company to help with that development. Beta versions will also be distributed to the market prior to the commercial release.

In addition to creating objects 10 times faster than other 3D printers on the market, Nigro said, Multi Jet Fusion can print in color and can provide different textures to the item it is working on.

“We’re embracing an open platform so the community can come together and innovate,” Nigro said. “Our vision for 3D printing is our vision to change industries.”

Continuing the three-dimensional theme, Ron Coughlin, HP’s senior vice president of personal systems, introduced Sprout by HP. Coughlin explained that this new system combines five devices, a projector, keyboard, scanner, canvas with touch technology, and 3D camera into one PC, creating a new technology category called “immersive computing.”

With the ability to scan in three dimensions on a high-definition touch screen, Coughlin explained how users will be able to have interactive video conferences, combine physical and digital art, and have an easier and more intuitive creative process.

“We want to intuitively enable creators through technology,” Coughlin said.

Sprout will hit the retail market on Sunday, Nov. 9 at locations including Best Buy and Microsoft Stores. Click here for more details on these HP initiatives.