HP Sprout
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Personal computers, Mixed reality technology |
| Founded | October 29, 2014 |
| Founder | Brad Short |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Sprout (2014), Sprout Pro (2016), Sprout Pro G2 (2017) |
| Parent | HP Inc. |
Sprout by HP (presented in lowercase) was a personal computer developed by HP Inc., officially announced on October 29, 2014, and made available for purchase on November 9, 2014. The concept originated from Brad Short, a Distinguished Technologist at HP, with leadership shared by Louis Kim, Head of the Immersive Computing Group, who together guided the team through the innovation and commercialization of this advanced computing platform.
Sprout Product Launch
The introduction of Sprout coincided with the unveiling of HP's Jet Fusion 3D Printer (previously known as Multi Jet Fusion, MJF), a Powder Bed Fusion technology for 3D printing. These product launches marked HP’s strategic entry into the 3D domain, aiming to support hybrid reality workflows that merge physical and virtual environments. This initiative targeted enhanced creativity and collaboration across industries such as productivity, education, engineering, and manufacturing.
Innovative Dual Display System
Sprout was designed around an immersive computing experience featuring two interactive touchscreens: a conventional upright LCD monitor paired with an innovative horizontal "TouchMat"—a flexible, touch-sensitive surface only 2.5mm thick. Arranged vertically one above the other, the vertical screen functioned as the primary computer display while the TouchMat served as an interactive tabletop workspace. This mat displayed digital content and acted as a scanning interface for both two-dimensional documents and three-dimensional objects. Items scanned were then projected back at their actual size directly over their physical originals, producing a hyper-realistic effect by overlaying digital replicas onto tangible items.
The Illuminator
Central to Sprout’s design was the integrated column and arm known as the "Sprout Illuminator," positioned above and behind the vertical screen. This unit incorporated a custom DLP projector, a high-resolution camera, and a real-time depth sensor aimed precisely at the thin TouchMat surface below. The synergy between these displays, cameras, and sensors allowed for immersive interactions that seamlessly combined physical objects with digital content. Documents and tangible items could coexist alongside digital projections on the TouchMat, which enabled immediate 2D or 3D scanning followed by re-projection for manipulation in digital form—mimicking direct interaction with real-world objects. This capability fostered smooth digital creation and remote teamwork by integrating physical media with virtual content in a true WYSIWYG fashion. Traditional input methods were complemented by a projected virtual keyboard and trackpad, along with additional controls via an Adonit stylus and Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse to facilitate interaction with both physical and digital elements. Users could capture and edit content in either two or three dimensions directly through the TouchMat interface, streamlining creative workflows.
Sprout
The original Sprout model launched in 2014 represented HP’s first commercially available immersive computing device.
Sprout Pro
Introduced in 2016, Sprout Pro incorporated modest internal enhancements to comply with commercial standards, broadening its applicability particularly within educational institutions and retail kiosk environments.
Sprout Pro G2
Debuting in 2017, Sprout Pro G2 was the second-generation iteration of the Sprout Pro line featuring considerable hardware and software improvements. It came equipped with a redesigned TouchMat supporting an active stylus capable of detecting 256 levels of pressure sensitivity along with palm rejection technology. The TouchMat’s projector was upgraded to full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), aligning it with the vertical display’s quality. This model included WorkTools—a new suite of applications that integrated 2D capture, 3D scanning, and mixed-reality content creation within Windows-based workflows. Sprout Pro G2 was the final release in HP’s Sprout series.