What Is WiDi? How Does It Relate to Wireless Screen Mirroring and Multi-Screen Interaction?
When exploring the world of wireless screen mirroring and multi-screen interaction, you may come across a historical term: WiDi. What exactly is it, and how does it relate to today’s technologies?
1. The Origin and Definition of WiDi
WiDi stands for “Intel Wireless Display,” an early wireless display technology developed and led by Intel. Before the emergence of the Miracast industry standard, WiDi was the primary solution for laptops equipped with Intel Core processors and specific wireless network cards to wirelessly transmit screen content to TVs or projectors.
2. The Relationship Between WiDi and Current Wireless Screen Mirroring Technologies
Their relationship can be summarized as an evolution “from pioneer to standard.”
- Similar technical foundation: Both WiDi and the current Miracast protocol are based on Wi-Fi Direct technology, enabling peer-to-peer direct connection between devices.
- Different attributes: WiDi is Intel’s proprietary technology with specific hardware requirements. Miracast, by contrast, is an industry-wide, open standard launched by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
- Integration and replacement: As the open, universal Miracast standard was adopted by most device manufacturers, Intel eventually ceased the development of WiDi and shifted to full support for the Miracast standard.
3. Summary
In simple terms, WiDi is the predecessor and enabler of the current wireless screen mirroring standard (Miracast), and it has now been replaced by a unified, open standard. When we talk about multi-screen interaction and wireless screen mirroring today, the underlying technologies are mainly Miracast and other protocols.