Are Nanotube Monitors In Your Future?

cmburns69 writes "There is an article over on CNET News about some new nanotube technology which could replace LCD flat panel displays. "These 'field effect displays,' or FEDs, will consume less energy than plasma or liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs, deliver a better picture and even cost less.". The article is mostly focused on the FED technology, but also includes a summary of what other new display technology is coming up such as SEDs and slim CRTs. "

Comments

But Do they Beat OLEDS?

[ghutchis]

The article is interesting and IMHO, new display technologies will always find their niche. But I've always thought the "next-gen" technology to beat LCD flat-screen or plasma displays was going to be OLEDs.

On the one hand, OLEDs still have some problems with lifetimes--even research devices that I saw in grad school might degrade quickly. And of course I haven't seen anyone really give proof that single-walled nanotubes (SWNT) used in these FEDs can be produced cost-effectively.

However, unlike these technologies, OLEDs have already been produced as prototypes in sizes as large as 40" (by Seiko Epson) and being used in products like Digital Cameras and MP3/Ogg players and being mass-produced by companies like Sony.

Previous Slashdot stories on OLEDs:
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/10/15/201723 7
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/03/04/0127213.shtm l?tid=137
http://science.slashdot.org/science/04/03/09/01122 34.shtml
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/05/05/004227.shtml ?tid=137&tid=141&tid=159&tid=184&tid=186&tid=188

Bad choice of acronyms

[awtbfb]

FED has already been used for flat panel screens. Specifically: field emission displays. Worth noting is that these, while very neat, turned out to be fiscally problematic (hence the need for the Wayback Machine). Not a good omen for this incarnation...