Sony Develops Electronic Paper Video Display

Nearly a decade ago, being the proud owner of a fifty-inch television set was only possible to the extremely wealthy. Nearly five years ago, owning a fifty-inch television became possible. However, owning a super-thin television was not. Today all displays are generally thin. How thin can a display be? How flexible can a display be? Sony begs this question with its release of its new technology - a .01 inch thick display that is able to bend like a piece of paper and still operate, all while showing images and video.

Sony uploaded the video of its new technology, all 2.5 inches of the display, on its site on Friday. In the video, a magnificent picture of a lake is shown, along with a color video of a stunt man on bicycle, and other picturesque images.

According to the Japanese and electronics gaming company, later this week Sony will present its new technology in Long Beach, California, at an academic symposium.

Sony intelligently combines two technologies - its own organic thin film transistor and another type of technology called organic electroluminescent display. The thin film transistor, also known as TFT, is required to make the new display as flexible as a piece of paper. However, this new combined technology will have to go against fierce competition, as the plasma display and liquid crystal display panels are currently dominating the market. Regardless, a display thin enough that it is able to bend in ones hand is an undeniable breakthrough.

However, whether or not Sony will be commercializing this product is still undetermined.

The possibilities of this technology seem endless. In five years could we be walking around with moving video on our clothing, or a moving video wallpaper decorating the walls of our homes? Possibly, considering this technology can be dropped on the ground and still function since it is as thin as a piece of paper.

However, problems still remain, including enlarging the display and cutting costs. In addition to Sony, other companies are attempting to create an "electric paper" technology.

More than a year ago, Sony's President said his company was developing a technology so thin that it can be treated like a piece of paper, and as a result, Sony would become a technological powerhouse.

Some analysts believe Sony's new technology will falter and take the backseat to its competitors in flat-panel technology, such as Samsung Electronics. Regardless, this electronic paper technology is a major breakthrough that has potential to become mainstream.