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First Dual-emission OLED Display in a Phone

roc_face writes "Japanese electronics joint-venture company ELDis has come up with the world's first dual-emission organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display for a mobile phone. This means the screen can be viewed from both sides. It was on display at the annual Flat Panel Display exposition in Tokyo this week."

101 comments

  1. Yarr by Leffe · · Score: 4, Funny
    Dual-emission OLED Display
    Oh my, lots of technical words :) I suspect that I'm a little after in technology. I haven't even got a cell phone :p
    1. Re:Yarr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Heck, I don't even have a computer! I'm picking up Slashdot at Starbucks with the fillings in my teeth!

    2. Re:Yarr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      U what no "mobile" phone. Gah, everyone has a one. Well in europe anyway.

  2. Short article by pldms · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Am I missing something? The /. summary is almost as long as the article itself.

    --
    Slashdot looked deep within my soul and assigned
    me a number based on the order in which I joined
    1. Re:Short article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Site was /.ed, here is the contents

      roc_face writes "Japanese electronics joint-venture company ELDis has come up with the world's first dual-emission organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display for a mobile phone. This means the screen can be viewed from both sides. It was on display at the annual Flat Panel Display exposition in Tokyo this week."

      Strikingly similar, you're right ;)

  3. hang on... by tiled_rainbows · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Wouldn't that mean that all the text on one side of the screen would come out backwards?
    How useful is that?

    1. Re:hang on... by EMH_Mark3 · · Score: 1

      You could make a switch that is depressed when the phone is closed and that mirrors the data on the screen. Problem solved.

      --
      Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me
    2. Re:hang on... by AllenChristopher · · Score: 4, Informative
      Well, if the phone is closed, then the image flips around. Say for caller id, or an e-mail that's come in which can be navigated with a jog dial.

      It seems like a much better solution than those slide-out keypads on something like the Sidekick. A hinge is an easier mechanism to work with.

    3. Re:hang on... by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 2, Informative

      The phone would just reverse the text when you close the flip-top cover. This technology allows you to replace the two screens that some phones have (one of each side of the flip-top, with the outside one showing caller id and such) with one screen. Simpler & cheaper.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    4. Re:hang on... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can just imagine playing with this like playing with the refridgerator light and finding the point where the image will be backwards and forwards at the same time.

    5. Re:hang on... by angry+old+man · · Score: 1
      Are you trying to tell me that there is some point when you open your refrigerator door that the light is simultaneosly ON and OFF??

      --
      -vax computer, vi, lynx. 'nuf said
    6. Re:hang on... by Odin's+Raven · · Score: 1
      Are you trying to tell me that there is some point when you open your refrigerator door that the light is simultaneosly ON and OFF??

      That would be the classic "Schroedinger's Fridge" paradox...

      --
      A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores.
    7. Re:hang on... by timeOday · · Score: 1
      Are you trying to tell me that there is some point when you open your refrigerator door that the light is simultaneosly ON and OFF??
      Yes, it's state is undetermined until you open it to look :)
    8. Re:hang on... by Alsee · · Score: 1, Funny

      Wouldn't that mean that all the text on one side of the screen would come out backwards?
      How useful is that?


      Tech Support: How may I help you?
      Average Caller: The computer you sold me is BROKEN!
      Tech Support: Did you drop it?
      Average Caller: NO! What do you think I am? An idiot?
      Tech Support: No no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean suggest that. So what's what's wrong with your computer?
      Average Caller: It's BROKEN!
      Tech Support: How is it broken?
      Average Caller: I don't know how it got broken!
      Tech Support: No, I mean what's wrong with it that it's broken? Does it turn on?
      Average Caller: Yeah it turns on. But it's all screwed up!
      Tech Support: What exactly is screwed up?
      Average Caller: All of it! Everything!
      Tech Support: Ok. How about this, do you see the desktop?
      Average Caller: I'm not at a desk.
      Tech Support: I mean do you see the start button?
      Average Caller: Yeah. It's all screwed up.
      Tech Support: The start button is there, but it's "screwed up"?
      Average Caller: CHRIST! That's what I just said!!!
      Tech Support: Ok, ok. I was just trying to make sure I understood you. Can you describe the start button to me?
      Average Caller: Huh? You're supposed to be Tech Support and you don't know what a start button looks like? It's a gray button in the corner that says "start". And it's all screwed up.
      Tech Support: Exactly how is it different than it usually is?
      Average Caller: The word "start" is all messed up.
      Tech Support: How is it messed up? Can you read it?
      Average Caller: Well, yeah I can sorta read it.
      Tech Support: Is the image blurry? Are the colors wrong? Does it have dots on it?
      Average Caller: No, nothing like that. It's perfectly clear, the letters are screwed up.
      Tech Support: Ah! Did you change your font setting?
      Average Caller: NO! I DIDN'T DO THAT! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!!! What's a "font setting"?
      Tech Support: Ok ok, how about this. Look at one letter and tell me what's wrong with it.
      Average Caller: The "S". It looks funny. And it's not supposed to be at the end!
      Tech Support: At the end? You mean the word "start" is backwards? And all the letters are backwards?
      Average Caller: Ummm (pause to study the screen) yeah. That's it. Everything is backwards. That's exactly what I said! Everything is screwed up! It's all backwards!
      Tech Support: Ahhh! Good.
      Average Caller: What do you mean "GOOD"?!? My computers is screwed up!
      Tech Support: I'm sorry. I just mean that now I know what the problem is and it's easy to fix. You turned the screen upside down.
      Average Caller: NO I DIDN'T!
      Tech Support: Maybe someone else turned it upside down. Just turn it over.
      Average Caller: I TOLD YOU, IT'S NOT UPSIDE DOWN!
      Tech Support: Ok. Could you just test it for me please? Try turning it upside down and telling me what happens?
      Average Caller: FINE! (adjusts screen) There! Now it's worse! See!
      Tech Support: What do you mean it's worse?
      Average Caller: Now the start button is on the TOP!
      Tech Support: Huh? Ohh! The top left? Or the top right? If it's on the top left then you rotated the screen instead of turning it over.
      Average Caller: Umm, it's on the right.... uhh, no, it's on the left.... uhhhhhhh..... it's on the, ummmm....
      Tech Support: Are you left handed or right handed?
      Average Caller: Right handed.
      Tech Support: Is the start button near your right hand or the other hand?
      Average Caller: No. It's near my other hand. It's on the top left.
      Tech Support: Ok. So you rotated the screen instead of turning it over. Rotate the screen back and flip it over the other way.
      Average Caller: Ok, I turned it left instead of turning it right and the start button is on the top left again!
      Tech Support: No, I don't mean to turn it. I mean flip it.
      Average Caller: I did flip it!

      12 minutes later...

      Tech Support: Ok, so now do you follow me about how a frisbee spins?
      Average Caller: Uhuh.
      Tech Support: And now you follow me

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  4. It's a breakthrough! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    "world's first dual-emission organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display for a mobile phone."

    Er...who gives a shit?

  5. Cool by jorleif · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cool, with this device and a mirror I will be able to watch two screens showing the same image at the same time.

    Seriously though, it will make it very hard to hide from your friends what a lousy nibbles player you are.

    1. Re:Cool by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 5, Funny

      !won thgir sgniht eseht fo eno htiw todhsals ot gnitsop m'I

      --

      In Soviet America the banks rob you!
    2. Re:Cool by bryanthompson · · Score: 1

      Or you could take the displays and hook them up to a wearable computer and make some crazy system of mirrors to get a cheapish display...

      wearable display cost has been holding me back on making a wearable computer :(

  6. I don't know if I should call it cool or useless. by mikeophile · · Score: 5, Funny
    I'm sure there are better uses for this tech than cell phones.

    It's all fun and games until your signifigant other sends you some homemade porn during a business meeting.

  7. Applications by ubera · · Score: 5, Informative

    It strikes me that this has a number of great applications, above mobile phone use.

    How about Roadside Signs which are readable on both sides?
    (for that "I wonder what exit I just missed feeling)

    Also, laptop displays that can be viewed on one side while an over head projector reads the other?

    I like this tech. Anyone got any numbers for brightness and power consumption?

    --
    But what is the SIGnificance?
    1. Re:Applications by mikeophile · · Score: 4, Insightful
      With a bigger version of this kind of screen, you could play a proper game of Connect Four.

      It might be adopted pretty quickly by the military though. It would be a great upgrade to those plexiglass tactical map displays you see in every modern submarine movie.

    2. Re:Applications by G-funk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How about Roadside Signs which are readable on both sides?

      Or they could just mount another piece of metal on the other side of the poles... I wonder which would be cheaper?

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    3. Re:Applications by sleeper0 · · Score: 2, Informative

      i dont think they'd use it for street signs wouldnt one side always be shown in reverse?

      It seems to me that you would use this tech on those pda's/laptops that have a swivel screen to eiter be used with a keyboard or cover up the keyboard to be used like a pad. Those swivel screens must be hell to design well compared to a switch that just makes the screen draw in reverse.

    4. Re:Applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shhhh, you'll spoil the technophiles enjoyment of misusing technology for the sake of "new"! More metal? Pah, thats so old tech! We want a Dual-Emision OLED sign updated over the public IP networks via. UMTS. Using XML and J2EE. Yeah, that'll do it!

    5. Re:Applications by wagemonkey · · Score: 2, Insightful
      It might be adopted pretty quickly by the military though. It would be a great upgrade to those plexiglass tactical map displays you see in every modern submarine movie.
      Except that plexiglass doesn't need power, is pretty resistant to shaking and twisting, doesn't mind a little water, isn't affected by EMP...
    6. Re:Applications by lightsaber1 · · Score: 1
      i dont think they'd use it for street signs wouldnt one side always be shown in reverse?

      Making it perfect for viewing through the rear-view mirror. :-) Haven't you ever seen an ambulance?

      But I agree, laptops, pdas, etc would be a better use, perhaps televisions, maps...you name it, if you can look at it, you can use this for it.

    7. Re:Applications by mikeophile · · Score: 1
      It's very low power as displays go, and if you're out of power in a sub, your kinda screwed anyway.

      With a Lexan substrate, the OLED display will be as rugged and water-proof as the old tactical grid.

      Finally, if enough EMP penetrates the sub to fry the display, half the systems on the ship will go with it.

      Sorry, I'm just not seeing the downsides of an upgrade.

    8. Re:Applications by kasperd · · Score: 1

      another piece of metal

      Road signs that can be updated depending on the traffic conditions are already in use in some locations. A version where you could look in your mirror and see the mirrored image on the back of the sign might be convenient in some situations.

      --

      Do you care about the security of your wireless mouse?
    9. Re:Applications by PhysicsExpert · · Score: 1

      One of the major reasons why this technology is limited to small applications can be found in its name and specifically in the word Organic. These things are basically made of of carbon, which because of its higher valency (than silicon) will readilly react with oxygen to form Co2 and give off heat. Consequently these things are likely to catch fire if left anywhere near even a moderate source of heat and could even produce a major problem with regard to global warning as when they are thrown away the carbon dioxide produced will eventually find its way into the ozone layer.

      --
      All that glitters has a high refractive index.
    10. Re:Applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, it's always such a bitch when my diamond bling bling goes up in flames if I leave it near the stove.

    11. Re:Applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      price?

    12. Re:Applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      reliability?

    13. Re:Applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      With a bigger version of this kind of screen, you could play a proper game of Connect Four.

      Yeah, but YOU get to clean up the organic mess when you win and open the bottom for the pieces to come out.

      Old habits die hard...

    14. Re:Applications by wagemonkey · · Score: 1
      I thought you could run a sub for a fair while with little electrical power - most of these things have nuclear steam turbines pushing them along and I suspect the controls are hydraulic. You could then easily lose the electrical system and still fight the sub (admittedly at a disadvantage). I may be talking rubbish, but the military kind of goes for redundancy in a big way.
      I mentioned in another post the probable difficulty in scaling this thing up to make a big display. Then you need a convenient input method (touchscreen? wirelss pen ala tablet?).
      Another worry might be how these displays cope with vibration over a period of time.

      None of these problems are insurmountable but what they have works - the impetus would likely come from a new way of using the display under computer control rather than replicating the existing system. Just replacing a manual system with a computer system is rarely a resounding success, it when you make a paradigm shift that the real benefits kick in. How about layering these to create a 3d display? Project sea-floor and temperature/salinity (thermocline) information - you could increase the situational awareness a lot - get an edge.
      Once the displays have scaled up and proven durable and reliable (not the same thing) and a way has been found to use them. Don't hold your breath.

      Mind you if they're trying out iPaqs with lcd glasses for grunts....

    15. Re:Applications by mikeophile · · Score: 1
      Ok, let's say worse comes to worse with the Lexan-backed OLED tactical display.

      Power is shut down or it fails for some reason.

      What is left?

      A big sheet of plastic, exactly what they are using now.

    16. Re:Applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the government we're talking about. Remember that a piece of metal about two or three square feet in size costs about as much as a car. ;-)

    17. Re:Applications by smithmc · · Score: 1

      How about Roadside Signs which are readable on both sides? (for that "I wonder what exit I just missed feeling)

      Neat idea, but see, we've already got this technology we like to call "paint".

      --
      Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!
    18. Re:Applications by ubera · · Score: 1

      Are they used? I have never seen a painted double sided sign.

      Also, I think there are advantages to a
      dynamic content for the signs.

      --
      But what is the SIGnificance?
  8. sweet by Leahar · · Score: 1

    now you can make the fliper on your phone out of it and be able to see the screen if your phone is opened or closed oh and it would be backwards but the phone can easly detect wether the phone is open or closed and mirror it acordingly all we need now is to build the rest of the hard ware into the screen so all we would just have a screen nothing else then we could have properly skinable phones

    --
    Roses are Red Violates are Blue im not very good a poetry but i have many other redeming qualitys
    1. Re:sweet by BenjyD · · Score: 1

      Is the full stop key broken on your keyboard or something?

  9. Great.. by magnesius666 · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, next time my girlfriend sends me a... suggesting picture of hers on my mob, you get to see it too?

    --

    --
    We apologise for the inconvenience
    1. Re:Great.. by G-funk · · Score: 5, Funny

      But at least you'll know if she'd sending them to your mates as well :)

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    2. Re:Great.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "So, next time my girlfriend sends me a... suggesting picture of hers on my mob, you get to see it too?"

      I've already seen it, trust me.

    3. Re:Great.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You wish!!

      More like the next time your Mom sends you a pic of your supper!

      Or you send yourself a txt just to hear the starwars theme again!

  10. Hmmmm ... by the+bluebrain · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not quite.

    Now, if the back of the screen showed the back of the picture, too ....

    [*bibilip* ... *bibilip* ...]
    [glances at closed flip-open phone]
    - "Dude. Bad hair day?"

    :)

    --
    yes, we have no bananas
  11. Coming to a laptop near you by icke · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's an informative article from The Economist which explains that we should soon be able to mould screens and use them in broad daylight.

  12. Sigh by FosterSJC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    OK Guys- the jokes about using a mirror to see both screens and spinning your phone fast are not that funny. This has serious uses, not to mention it is a great example of the mythical OLED technology finally coming to market. For example: you know how your flip phone has that single line of text for caller ID or whatever on the outside? What if it had a whole screen, and you could see the person's picture when the called. How about if it were a viewfinder for a now-smaller ELF like camera? It is clunky moving an open phone around to take pictures. Now you can have Geiss like effects when you listen to your phone as an MP3 Player too. In other words, it just provides the possibility and the convenience of doing everything (non-call related) with the phone closed, that you normally require the phone open for.

    1. Re:Sigh by jorleif · · Score: 1

      Since you seem to know something about these devices I might as well ask for some clarifications. Is it one screen that displays in both directions or two screens on top of each other? If it is the former then isn't the other screen "mirrored" rendering text pretty hard to read? Of course pictures usually work equally good no matter if they are mirrored or not.

      In the camera example one could use software to invert the mirroring, if the phone is open the inner display shows text the right way, if the phone is closed ergo for the outer screen.

    2. Re:Sigh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, having a screen available when the phone is open is really great.

      Because of course, when you open your phone nowadays, the screen immediately disappears, right?

      Sigh back to you.

      But then, you're right if you mean this will give designers more options.

    3. Re:Sigh by Mr_Silver · · Score: 1
      For example: you know how your flip phone has that single line of text for caller ID or whatever on the outside? What if it had a whole screen, and you could see the person's picture when the called.

      This has already been done. See the Nokia 7650, Nokia 3650 and Sagem MY X-6 for three examples.

      How about if it were a viewfinder for a now-smaller ELF like camera? It is clunky moving an open phone around to take pictures.

      Look out for the Samsung P400. It doesn't use OLED technology but the entire display rotates around so you can close it with the screen outwards. Good for taking photos without the phone being open.

      --
      Avantslash - View Slashdot cleanly on your mobile phone.
    4. Re:Sigh by FosterSJC · · Score: 1

      No, as far as I know it is only one screen. It displays in two directions since it does not require the elaborate electronics behind it that an LCD screen does. So, theoretically, people on the outside can see what you are seeing, only mirrored, as you said. However, it is very simple to have the phone check to see if it closed or not, and, if it is, display the text so that it can be properly read when it is closed. I hope that is clear, if not, ask and I will try to clarify. I know it is silly, but I really can't wait for OLEDs in everything.

    5. Re:Sigh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This has serious uses, not to mention it is a great example of the mythical OLED technology finally coming to market.

      Then why can't you list any "serious" uses??? And since when did another stupid LED advancement qualify as mythical?? I think maybe you are mistaken OLED for like the Phoenix or something.

  13. gives new meaning to chinese walls by hashish · · Score: 1

    well i guess we'll call them Japanese walls.

  14. I suppose dual-emmission sounds more impressive... by magickalhack · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They consume much less power than current devices and have faster response times.

    This seems like a much more interesting fact about them than that they can be viewed from both sides. I suppose one could take advantage of the dual-viewable nature, but it seems like something we already have an adaquate solution for: place a screen on each surface you want to have a screen on. Duh! ;-)

    On the other hand, I suppose the 2 sided viewability could be potentially beneficial to hybrid tablet PCs, which until now have had to rely on fragile-looking swivel mechanisms to rotate the screen between laptop and tablet functionality.

    Any indication as to whether or not the images on each side are identical (i.e. the back is a mirror image of the front) or if they can be controlled independantly?

    --
    This Sig Kills Fascists
  15. More inane suggestions by vbprisoner · · Score: 1

    Some more ideas If you can also see through the display, it could have all sorts of head-up display uses. Not that I think you should be on the phone when you're flying that euro-fighter. It might also make battleships a viable game for 2 on a mobile. We need to know about whether the two sides if the display can display different things.

    --
    But I wore the juice
  16. cancer! by metallikop · · Score: 1

    Dual-emission OLED Display That just SOUNDS like cancer. I thought one emission point was enough.

  17. That's not why it's a dual display... by _Brazil_ · · Score: 1

    It is obvious why it is dual display: because it is on a flip phone. When the phone is closed, it will just mirror the image so it looks normal on the other side. This will make the phone a lot cheaper and have a lot of functions because now designers can dedicate more of the phone to a big screen... You don't have to have the cheap little monochrome lcd on the outside for caller id or something.

    1. Re:That's not why it's a dual display... by _Brazil_ · · Score: 1

      I feel bad now that I'm not the only saying this... I should read all the comments first (if possible)

  18. Wow. by Faust7 · · Score: 4, Funny

    To this day is it not known how the ancient Egyptians managed to build the pyramids without being able to read their cell phones from both sides. One theory suggests rotary technology; more audacious mavericks wonder if they perhaps did not have phones at all.

    1. Re:Wow. by packeteer · · Score: 1

      Perhaps the most plausible theory of them all is that the aliens which built the pyramids did indeed have cell phone veiwabl;e from both sides. Many scientists behind this theory believe that this is what enabled them to pull off such feats.

      --
      unzip; strip; touch; finger; mount; fsck; more; yes; unmount; sleep
  19. HUH?!? by hankaholic · · Score: 1

    Reading Slashdot before putting your glasses on can be MUCH more interesting.

    I saw:

    First Dual-emission OLEO Display in a Phone

    How neat would that be? A margarine-based display? Talk about low production costs!

    --
    Somebody get that guy an ambulance!
    1. Re:HUH?!? by I+Like+Swords!!! · · Score: 1

      Yeah... with that Parkay-Inside label next to the display.

      --
      .unsigged
  20. One problem for PDAs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This is indeed great for status display on a device like a phone.

    The problem now is in tablet devices- we're seeing a shift to proper capacitative pads, instead of the topcoating matrix used in, say, early Palms and Psions. To create a 'convertible' PDA out of one of these, you're stuck with the older technology- and you'll need to apply it to both sides.

    I also wonder how well these can render black; do they have an LCD layer sandwiched in the middle?

    Verdict: Cool for embedding a TV in your living room window, if you don't plan to watch any porn. (Now, what if it were transmissive, but with microreflectors behind the OLED cells, just enough to aim the light one way and block/diffuse/blur it in the other?)

  21. I wonder... by silicon1 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    does the chick come with the phone? I bet that phone costs soo much that it should come with lips.

  22. See-through clear pixels by Cthefuture · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I wonder if they have a version that has or can make the pixels clear.

    That would be cool. Imagine a large wall that has graphics on it but is also translucent. You know, like those screens you always see in sci-fi movies. Add some touch sensors...

    --
    The ratio of people to cake is too big
    1. Re:See-through clear pixels by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1
      mmm, unless I am really missing something, all LCD's are transparant. That is how the backlight manages to shine through them. (btw I am talking about the old style LCD like in the old handheld vid games. I think modern screens are the same but I am guessing here)

      The LCD itself is just a piece of glass. The reason that you can't see through them is because they put something behind it to either reflect light back, or the backlight itself. But you can keep a LCD transparant. I seen them used in clocks.

      --

      MMO Quests are like orgasms:

      You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    2. Re:See-through clear pixels by Cthefuture · · Score: 1

      mmm, unless I am really missing something :) oopsie.

      These are not LCD's. They are self illuminating and do not use backlighting. Also colorful. And from the look of the photo they do not appear to be translucent, but it's hard to tell.

      If they could be made clear though... wow, it would look awesome. It would not be like a LCD because OLED's produce colorful light.

      --
      The ratio of people to cake is too big
  23. Anyone have the company's URL? by CrazyWingman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    There's all this talk about "ELDis", but I can't seem to find them on the net. Anyone have an URL for them?

    Also, I remember an article in Scientific American a couple of years ago about trying to create a display that was made of small particles, which could be rotated (or something like that) into the proper position to show the proper color. It was proposed as a great idea for e-books. First, because b&w was easiest. Second, because once the particles where in the proper position, no more power needed to be applied to the screen, they would just stay put, which meant that the only power consumption was in turning pages. Anyway, anyone know whatever happened to that project?

    1. Re:Anyone have the company's URL? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      here it is http://www.eink.com/

  24. poor design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Ok guys, the major problem with OLED's is lifetime. In particular, they die after a certain number of Coulombs of charge have been pumped through them (while they are at a given temperature! increase the temp by 10 deg C and the lifetime drops in half!). So this means the total number of photons you get out is limiting. You want it bright so you can see it outside as well. This means that you generally want ALL the photons going to the viewer (using reflective matrix or lenticular material, etc.) to help do this. If half the photons go out the back, you have to drive it twice as hard to get the same usable brightness! Bad idea...

    1. Re:poor design by burns210 · · Score: 1

      "If half the photons go out the back, you have to drive it twice as hard to get the same usable brightness! Bad idea..."

      But they look so cool! Honestly, they do look cool, and that will drive research to improve their lifetime, since a product like this will be popular and the company that is doing the R&D for the cellphones with this tech will know this. First generation tech, just like x.0 software releases aren't always great, but they get better in time.

  25. paper driven subs? by fantomas · · Score: 1

    "Except that plexiglass doesn't need power, is pretty resistant to shaking and twisting, doesn't mind a little water, isn't affected by EMP...
    "

    Waitaminute. You mean they are still using pencil-and-paper instead of computers to control those things down there? (same argument for against manual vs. computer navigated subs, surely?)

    1. Re:paper driven subs? by wagemonkey · · Score: 1
      You mean they are still using pencil-and-paper instead of computers to control those things down there?
      It's a sheet of plastic and a guy writing backwards with a chinagraph pencil - or possibly an erasble OHP pen these days. That's what they use for the plot. Sure they use computers, but I would assume re-boot time would be a major worry if you're in an engagement. Do you really want a computer to re-ipl when you could have an electrical or electro-mechanical system do the same job with less worry? I'm thinking primarily of weapons and helm control. Admittedly you have to already 'set up' your torps, but for all I know this is still done manually - or knowing the military there is a manual backup. If there's no problem with an (electro-)mechanical system then why change?

      In the example of the guy writing on plastic, the display may be an improvement (personally I'd want a holotank) but the input method could be a problem, and do these cellphone displays scale to three to four foot square panels? Considering the reject rate for LCDs I wouldn't order any just yet - and you need to check reliability too, a few dead pixels in a tactical plot might be a trifle... inconvenient.

      These things will appear in subs, but I doubt in the next few years.

  26. Forget the cancer... by I+Like+Swords!!! · · Score: 1

    So THAT'S how Dr. Banner in the tv series exposed himself to all that gamma radiation. That dual-emission display gave double the amount of radiation when he thought he was only getting half that. Silly me. Why didn't I see it before?

    Perhaps they'll need a warning label:

    *DANGER* Too much exposure to this screen may lead to unintended skin pigment changes along with growth in body mass.

    Wait, that can be said for all screens... erm, yeah.

    --
    .unsigged
  27. Chinese walls are pretty good by SunPin · · Score: 1

    The Great Wall of China is just one example off the top of my head. What exactly did you mean by "Chinese walls?"

    --
    Laws are for people with no friends.
  28. Dual-emission? First thought.... by Phyr3b4t · · Score: 1

    Its got mufflers? Is there something about OLEDs that I missed??

    --
    w00f.
  29. hmmm by meatspray · · Score: 1

    You could fasshion several of these in front of eachother and get a 3D image could you not?

    or possibly into a box shape if you had an assured angle of perspective.

    seems like a wast on a cell phone but I'm glad they finally showed up

  30. ... and power loss, and phosphor life by bagofbeans · · Score: 3, Interesting

    See http://www.usdc.org/technical/downloads/Web_Report _0101/sld027.htm which is a Philips slide saying a 640x480 display will draw 28W. Not for my laptop, thanks. This is why all the bigger displays are 1 off demos for hype, and only the very small ones (about 2" diagonal max) are in production.

    The other big problem is phosphor life which varies with colour (blue is worst) and getting 10k hours is very difficult unless temperature is kept moderate.

    However, these displays look very good, although maybe too good for reasonable privacy because the viewing angle is TOO wide to my mind.

    IMHO, you won't these even competing with TFTs until 2007.

    1. Re:... and power loss, and phosphor life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      cell phones are pretty much disposables these days.
      i haven't paid for a cell phone in over 5 years, and I upgrade to a new model every year.
      The short lifespan of oleds make it a perfect match for cell phones.

  31. Re:moron the split-screen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Alex Chiu, is that you?

  32. TOLED double-sided see-thru screens by kobotronic · · Score: 2, Interesting

    http://www.universaldisplay.com/toled.php

    Soon we'll see all kinds of different neat OLED tech. Smart windows can be transparent, with a lo-rez LCD layer forming solid black backgrounds behind the windows of a transparent OLED display panel. You can imagine embedding this on a mirror or anywhere there is a glass surface, providing full-contrast see-thru windows. Imagine bank tellers and ticket counters of the future -- the display will be right in the middle of the transaction area, with both parties seeing the same image, flipped appropriately on either side. Cool stuff. I want a 50 inch diagonal fishtank that turns into a color television when switched on!

  33. Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you just use another piece of metal, how could you see the backside as you drive away during night? No headlights to illuminate it (assuming those from cars going the other direction won't do the trick.)

  34. Re:I don't know if I should call it cool or useles by Captain+Nitpick · · Score: 2, Funny
    It's all fun and games until your signifigant other sends you some homemade porn during a business meeting.

    Then it's just fun.

    --
    But then again, I could be wrong.
  35. whoopee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This means that you can read the display normally or in "l33T speak" form. Will wonders never cease.

  36. Submarine?!?! by GoofyBoy · · Score: 1

    >those plexiglass tactical map displays you see in every modern submarine movie.

    Dude, you would use them to plan your mass evacuation from Hoth when the Empire finds you.

    --
    The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
  37. What is OLED? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Confused?

    Want to know what OLED actually is?

    www.oled.com

  38. Wait a minute!!!! by MickLinux · · Score: 1

    So you're trying to tell me that I'd get more done if I didn't have my mob (well, we call them handies)?

    That's ridiculous. Next you'd tell me I'd be more productive without my Microsoft Productivity Package!!!

    Or... *gasp* my computer.

    WITH INTERNET?!??

    That does it. I'm headed off to a different Slashdot forum.

    --
    Correct Horse Battery Staple: 72 bits of entropy. Enter "Correct H" into google. When it generates the phrase, that's
  39. Double Brightness? by Vegan+Pagan · · Score: 1

    If you press a mirror against the back of this, will the reflected light double the brightness seen from the front?

  40. Don't click on Parents link - squatter site!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Arrrrrg!!!!