Apr 8 2008
With liquid crystal display (LCD) technology having reached a point of maturity from where there can only be evolutionary changes rather than revolutionary, the field is open to disruptive, cost-effective technologies. Some of these include organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), 3D and holographic displays, as well as multi-touch interfaces.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Innovations in Display Technologies, finds that OLED and 3D holographic display technology likely to revolutionize the display arena in the coming years.
3D holography is a much-vaunted technology, since scalability issues do not limit it. Once perfected, it could be the most viable solution for terrain mapping, civil planning applications, and entertainment applications such as game consoles, cinema, and billboards. The medical industry can also benefit from 3D displays in surgical guidance equipment and areas such as radiation oncology.
Of all display technologies, OLED expects to find extensive adoption in a variety of portable consumer electronics, home entertainment, and automotive applications. However, for all its advantages, OLEDs might find the going tough in the large-screen displays. Even in the small- and medium-sized displays, LCD still dominates. “To pose a serious threat to LCDs, the technologically superior OLEDs will have to resolve certain issues such as its color element lifetimes and manufacturing techniques,” says Technical Insights Research Analyst Prithvi Raj.
“OLED displays are limited by the relatively short lifetimes of blue OLED and this makes such displays currently unsuitable in a primary television unit,” notes Technical Insights Research Analyst Sharmishta S. “However, it should be noted that the half-life of the color elements (including blue) have vastly improved over the past few years and it is likely that it will soon achieve acceptable standards.”
OLEDs are ideal for smaller displays on space/power-critical portable applications such as mobile phones and mp3 players. This is because OLEDs draw far lesser power than LCDs and as they do not require backlighting, these displays can be made extremely thin.
Once OLEDs replace LCDs in the portable consumer electronic displays sector, they can try to forge a path in the larger display segment, provided they employ scalable manufacturing methods. Although OLED technology prices are not likely to drop anytime soon to match LCD displays, its advantages of higher viewing angles, thinner displays, and increased contrast, offers OLED the upper hand.
“OLEDs with their wide viewing angle, high contrast ratio, and absence of backlighting allow for the realization of ultra-slim displays,” says Sharmishta S. ”3D holography also has tremendous potential and along with OLEDs, is likely to revolutionize the display landscapes in the coming years.”
Meanwhile, multitouch display interfaces offer multi-user, multi-input functionality and have been making waves for its simple interface. Applications for this technology range form infrastructure planning to navigation and mapping. This technology could also find applications as a table-top interface in a variety of locations like hotels, clubs, offices, and homes.
“Projection technology has also progressed a great deal with MEMS-based micro-mirrors,” says Raj. “Developments are underway to miniaturize current projectors down to levels where they can be housed within mobile devices, thereby opening up new avenues in portable entertainment.”
Innovations in Display Technologies, a part of the Technical Insights subscription, provides a technology overview and outlook for display technologies. The study covers OLEDs, 3D display technology, carbon-nanotube-based FED, and MEMS-based displays. Furthermore, this research service includes detailed technology analysis and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.
If you are interested in an analysis, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview, summary, challenges, and latest coverage of Innovations in Display Technologies send an e-mail to Mireya Castilla, Corporate Communications, at [email protected] with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.