An image capture and display device, comprising: a. a display panel having a front side that can display an image to a viewer and a back side, said display panel being capable of being alternately placed in a first state where the display panel displays an image and a second state wherein at least a portion of the display panel is substantially transparent; b. a backlight device disposed behind said display panel for providing a substantially uniform light to the back side of said display panel, said backlight device comprising a uniform light panel having a front surface facing the back side of said display panel, a back surface with a reflective layer provided at the back surface, and a light source for providing light to said uniform light panel; c. a diffusing element placed between said display panel and said backlight device, said diffusing element having at least a portion thereof capable of being alternately placed in a first state, wherein said diffusing element diffuses the light from said uniform light panel being transmitted to said display panel and a second state wherein said portion is substantially transparent, and said portion of the diffusing element is aligned with said portion of the display panel such that a substantially transparent region is provided through the display panel and the diffusing element; d. an image capture device positioned integrally to said uniform light panel and aligned to capture an image through said transparent region wherein a light shield is positioned around the image capture device such that impinging light from the uniform light panel is blocked from entering the lens of the image capture device; and e. a control system to direct the display to display images when the display panel and the diffusing element are simultaneously in their respective first states and to direct the image capture device to capture images when the display panel and the diffusing element are simultaneously in their respective second states. a. a display panel having a front side that can display an image to a viewer and a back side, said display panel being capable of being alternately placed in a first state where the display panel displays an image and a second state wherein at least a portion of the display panel is substantially transparent; b. a backlight device disposed behind said display panel for providing a substantially uniform light to the back side of said display panel, said backlight device comprising a uniform light panel having a front surface facing the back side of said display panel, a back surface with a reflective layer provided at the back surface, and a light source for providing light to said uniform light panel; c. a diffusing element placed between said display panel and said backlight device, said diffusing element having at least a portion thereof capable of being alternately placed in a first state, wherein said diffusing element diffuses the light from said uniform light panel being transmitted to said display panel and a second state wherein said portion is substantially transparent, and said portion of the diffusing element is aligned with said portion of the display panel such that a substantially transparent region is provided through the display panel and the diffusing element; d. an image capture device positioned integrally to said uniform light panel and aligned to capture an image through said transparent region wherein a light shield is positioned around the image capture device such that impinging light from the uniform light panel is blocked from entering the lens of the image capture device; and e. a control system to direct the display to display images when the display panel and the diffusing element are simultaneously in their respective first states and to direct the image capture device to capture images when the display panel and the diffusing element are simultaneously in their respective second states.