WebScreen is a compact webcam-sized AMOLED second screen for those without the room or inclination to use multiple monitors

Early WebScreen renders.
(Image credit: HW Media Lab)

Open-source mini display project WebScreen launched on GitHub this week with a pre-launch Crowd Supply page. WebScreen, equipped with a webcam-style mount to attach to your existing monitor (as well as its own webcam mount on top in case you still want to use one of those), is a 240 x 536 (roughly ~21:9) AMOLED display powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller. The total size of the unit, including some bezels for the mini display, is a hyper-compact 2.9 x 3.15 x 2.08 inches — broadly comparable to your average 4-inch smartphone, though the actual aspect ratio of the mini display is fairly wide.

According to HW Media Lab, "We envision people using WebScreen to get their most essential notifications, stats, and alerts nearby without shifting focus away to a phone or tablet" — this functionality is intended to be used to monitor some notifications without necessitating a full separate monitor or breaking gaming/streaming/working immersion by actually picking up your phone.

Now, we don't want to be dismissive of some cool new hardware — especially cool new open-source hardware — but we do think at least some critique is required here. The basic concept is fine, especially if the pricing is right — a tiny extra convenience screen, especially for desk setups that otherwise don't have room for one, is cool.

Christopher Harper
Contributing Writer

Christopher Harper has been a successful freelance tech writer specializing in PC hardware and gaming since 2015, and ghostwrote for various B2B clients in High School before that. Outside of work, Christopher is best known to friends and rivals as an active competitive player in various eSports (particularly fighting games and arena shooters) and a purveyor of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Killer Mike to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack.