tried to conquer the wearable world by placing a heads-up display close to your eye, but novo thinks it has a better idea: a wrists-up display. Yes, instead of strapping a Borg-like instrument to your head, novo thinks you’d prefer holding the side of your watch up to your eye to view content on a secondary display.

at could be more discreet?

The new technology, dubbed the Virtual Interactive Display (VID), is just a prototype is part of novo’s Android ar-based Magic View smartwatch concept design. The VID sits below the watch face, where the strap would normally begin. The display wouldn’t be readable from a distance could allow you to view private information in public spaces without intrusion from others.

To see anything on the VID, you have to hold the display right up to your eye, then you’ll see a full-size image. Android Central got a look at the VID during novo’s Techrld event in Beijing on Thursday said the picture was quite clear; however, moving your arm too much would cause blurring.

novo had a few concept apps running on the watch including a video player, a panorama images app that used the watch’s sensors to move around the lscape.

Overall, it’s an interesting problem to try solve. Since a smartwatch sits on your wrist the display is more public than a smartphone in your pocket–providing the opportunity for others to see personal information. A secondary display probably isn’t the right answer, but it’s an interesting engineering feat nonetheless.

The impact on you at home: This is just a concept for now, novo has no plans to roll it out as a finished product. Magic View is currently a little on the bulky side–Android Central says it’s about the size of the tch Urbane E with a Moto 360-style face. Before it could roll out, the watch would have to slim down a bit, battery life would have to be pretty solid. us we’d all have to get over the idea of everyone walking around looking like they’re incredibly near-sighted.