Dezeen promotion: Samsung has added a feature to its latest QLED televisions that allows the screen to appear almost transparent when not in use.
Samsung's Ambient Mode is designed to cloak the television by mimicking the look of the wall behind it or to enhance the environment with additional imagery and information, such as the time, weather or news headlines.
The function is built into the tech giant's 2018 QLED televisions. These sport an ultra-thin bezel and Samsung's signature One Invisible Cable, which means that with Ambient Mode on, a wall-mounted television will blend almost seamlessly into the wall behind it.
"TVs are turned on for only five hours a day on average, yet they occupy a large space on the wall in the living room," said Samsung. "This means TVs hang on the wall just as a black screen for more than 19 hours every day. With a TV turned off, it is easier to see dust or fingerprints on the screen ? especially when the screen is large."

Ambient Mode eliminates this black screen. The mode is set through an accompanying mobile app called SmartThings. A user takes a photo of the TV on the wall through the app, and the television analyses the wall's pattern and texture to generate an image that fills in the gap.
Optional information and images can then be overlaid, along with music. One of the more decorative options is a clock represented by silver balls inside a circle. The balls roll around to represent the hour, minute and second, and ...