Mobile phones that project video and GPS devices that project maps on anything from table tops to walls are expected to be the next big things, according to those at the Consumer Electronics Show, where the products are being showcased.

According to AFP.com, exhibitors at the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show are showing off mini-gizmos that can turn mobile telephones, MP3 players, and handheld GPS navigation devices into picture and video projectors.

The products can be used when you want to share images or video with more than one person at a time and are expected to be very popular with the young crowd, AFP said.

With the small gadgets, which attach to handheld devices, one can project digital television shows or videos from the Internet onto walls to share with friends, or do the same with advertising, multi-media work presentations or sales pitches.

The technology is expected to be available in the coming months, and will be reasonably affordable because it’s made from a blend of existing technologies, AFP reports.

Analysts expect the mini-projector market will explode in the next four years, AFP says.
And a recent forecast by display market research firm Pacific Media Associates projected sales of pocket projectors and other miniature “low power and low cost” projection devices will climb to 6.5 million by 2011.  These devices include stand-alone mini-projectors, embedded mini-projector modules for mobile and large devices, and mini-projectors in toys and video game systems, reported AFP.