Gorilla Glass: The New Glass Fad or Just Another Passing Technology Upgrade?

Gorilla Glass was created by Corning Incorporated almost over 50 years ago, and has now finally managed to find a commercial use. The product came to be back in 1962, but the company failed to find a niche for it in the ever expanding world that we live in.

That is until the explosion of technology that has streamlined the media since the 00's began. Corning Inc. now believes that their ultra strong, thin, and flexible design of glass can be used in many new products. Did we mention that it is stab proof?

Imagine walking into an electronics store and seeing a pencil thin television, no bigger than a normal picture frame, but with a crisp, clear quality; not to mention the durability, as it is extremely scratch proof, and nearly unbreakable (I wouldn't test it's unbreakability purposely. Especially if it costs out the wahzoo like so many other technological upgrades.)

Potentially, it is 3 to 4 times stronger then the type of glass we use in current televisions, which could greatly enhance it's potential in a disaster where it falls and might have broken. Think if an Earthquake hits, and your precious multi-thousand dollar television drops off of it's secure setting on the wall bracket? With the extra durability, it might save you from having to purchase an entirely new TV; or getting that one repaired. We can't say much for your rare china, though.

You could also go to your local cell phone store and engage at how it improves the use of the phones; from creating stronger screens that seem to resist breaking or scratching and increase the life of your phone, to creating a touchscreen that could be more pressure sensitive for more touch related options.

Expect to be paying more for that piece of technology containing Gorilla Glass then you would, for say, an Android phone using the current standards. The production of it ranges to about $30 to $40 more then the current conventional ways. That would increase our purchase of a product containing it to, perhaps, $50 or $60 more then without it. So it's hard to tell if Gorilla Glass is going to become the new thing that everyone uses, especially as it tends to cost more then other types of glass for phones and/or televisions.

So will we be seeing a new revolution in technology, or more importantly glass that is actually old but is going to be used for a new revolution? It's hard to tell at this stage. For one thing, sinking your money into investments for Corning Inc. may be better left as a future decision.

Their projections are to have a grasp on the glass-in-technology spot by around 2015. While no major manufacturers have taken Corning up on their offers, they still have faith in their product.

Who wouldn't, though? The company has a 48-year-old piece of glass that is a technological wonder for our modern day world. Included with it's increased durability, strength, flexibility, and damage resistance; perhaps Corning Incorporated really were working for the future.

Source: Engadget
Source: Gerson Lehrman Group