Roll-Up Monitors A Step Closer To Reality

gwernol writes "CNN are covering the merger of two of the leading companies in the field of OLEDs. This brings the dream of flexible plastic monitors and TVs a step closer to fruition. You can find out more at Cambridge Display Technology who have acquired Opsys. CDT's technology paper on light emitting polymers (in the Research & Technology section of their site) is interesting reading."

Comments

These OLEDs technologies are pretty promising

[f97tosc]

but the article fails to explain why this merger is such an important step in the development of new display technologies.

Tor

Scary.

[FreeLinux]

We hear lots of hype regarding this great new technology. Companies developing the technology start acquiring each other before there is even a deliverable. Stocks soar....

Then, the bubble bursts leaving no real technology, thousands holding worthless stock and a CEO retiring in the Caribbean.

Haven't we seen this before????

I don't dream of them being roll up so much...

[TerryAtWork]

as excellent, large and cheap.

Any signs of progress of THAT front?

Fahrenheit 451

[theCat]

I notice that the /. crowd has already taken up the call for wall-sized monitors. I hasten to direct anyone with such notions to the Ray Bradbury classic "Fahrenheit 451". It is a disturbing work on many levels, and you can Google a lot of analytical treatments of the themes in the book.

Particular to the current thread, in the book there are wall-sized display devices used in the predictable fashion; not to view above the sky full of live stars or weather a la Hogwarts in Harry Potter (which sounds delightful) but to take a small room and create a large, totally synthetic environment with an extended synthespian family, all via subscription service. And there you sit all day, listening to their dramatic, interesting lives while your own dull, wasted existance drains away. So if you like, views into a crafted world with fake people, custom made for unneeded people. Homeowners in the book measure themselves successful based on how many walls they own; four walls is just enough.

Entertainment is emmersive enough. Do we really want to be flood with non-reality? Or Unreal Tourny, for that matter? The stars overhead sound good, and so does an "invisible wall" that projects an outside view of your backyard, or anywhere else in the world for that matter (the crater of an active volacanoe sounds nice!) But that's NOT where this is headed, you know. People historically ignore nature and real people and embrace entertainment instead.

Re:Fahrenheit 451

[koreth]

Burn your books while you're at it -- you could be out doing something rather than sitting on your ass reading about it.

And if your friend starts to tell you about his day at work... what are you doing standing there idle while he yammers? Life is too short to waste time listening to other people go on about their banal, petty little lives.

People who want to waste time winding down rather than accomplishing something useful every second of their lives are all losers who deserve to be ridiculed and belittled.

Kill your campfire storyteller!

Why is lifetime of screens important? Replace em!

[gsfprez]

If a screen only lasts a year or two with the current OLED technology, why is that a big deal?

Make the screens replaceable. I mean, this technology makes it sound like they're pretty cheap to make since they are built using a modified (granted, more complex) inkjet technolgy. You've also now got a whole new after-market for laptop screens.

Don't need super-hgh rez - get a cheaper one.

Want to have a tri-fold-out screen at the office, and a lighter, energy efficient one for on the plane?

So what if the screen goes out if you can just buy a new screen for a few benjamins?

If i could get a lot more battery life, have a much more rugged screen, and it was mch brighter - i'd pay $200 for a newer screen(with higher rez, of course) every year and a half.

Re:Why is lifetime of screens important? Replace e

[terraformer]

Where do you propose the old ones go? At least with CRT the environmental nightmare is on a ~5 year life-cycle. With this it may be just as toxic (not to mention the mfg process used) but it would be on a much faster life-cycle.

Don't hold your breath

[Bozovision]

In September we (Cambridge Hi-Tech Association of Small Enterprises) had CDT talk to us. (CHASE is a club for people interested in technology and business and is based in Cambridge, UK. Come and visit the site, but not all at once.)

The head of technology and strategic planning spoke. Despite the hype-ticle on CNN, it was clear from what he said that you shouldn't expect flexible displays any time soon - probably not inside 10 years. I don't get a T-shirt with space invaders on it any time soon. You can expect conformable displays within a few years - i.e. rigid, shaped screens. However it's likely that you will see other companies building these; CDT is an IP company. They hold fundamental patents on light emmiting polymers. They aren't just a holding company; they do develop technology, but their basic strategy is to licence to others. They will have bought Opsys to strengthen their patent portfolio.

If you are currently building hardware that needs small mono screens you should definitely check out CDT. Their displays have superb characteristics - an almost 180 degree viewing angle, bright even in sunlight, and very low power requirements. The examples of the technology that he showed were very 'version 1.0', but show brilliant promise.

Next CHASE meeting - 12 Nov - Invisible Networks are building community broadband networks in rural villages around Cambridge. Currently using 802.11.

Jeff Veit
www.tanasity.com and www.tangledtime.com