Sony's Flexible Television Screen

It is amazing to me the current technological advances that have come to fruition in the last year or so. There have been e-Readers like the Kindle or the iPad, 3D-TV, Chris Harrison's display for virtual keypads, and now, incredibly, an unbelievably thin flexible screen that can hold a visual even while being rolled up. While it currently is cost prohibitive to the 'normal' home viewer and still has possible bugs to be worked out, the fact that such technology exists and is close to becoming what will be a new standard or possibly the beginning of new electronic devices not yet thought of is almost indescribable.

I have been in electronics a long time and thought that my astonishment had been peaked when computing went from something that filled a room to something that might be in your backpack. But this new advancement, the flexible screen, has done just that, astonished me. Between virtual display on your arm or hand like Microsoft and Chris Harrison's creation and the new Sony flexible screen which can be rolled our lives will forever by changed.

So what am I talking about? OLED. What is OLED? Organic Light Emitting Diode. OLED is a technology that uses organic material that changes electric energy into light providing a true flexible television screen. It is this light that illuminates the flexible screen, television or otherwise. OLED technology is advanced in many ways.

First, the visual is amazingly crisp and clear especially for a flexible screen. Second, the new diode uses far less energy so it is very energy efficient. Thirdly, this flexible screen is a mere 3 millimeters thick. So thin, in fact, that it can even roll-up and continue to hold its picture, thus the flexible screen.

So what was found that makes this flexible screen possible? The screen contains a new organic material that allows transistors which drive the circuitry to be made right into the flexible fabric which translates into a flexible screen. No longer is the need for chips that are rigid which would hinder the ability to flex or roll the screen.

The new OLED display eliminates the need for a separate light source with estimates of energy efficiency up to 40 percent. Also noteworthy because of their own light creation traditional back-lighting and therefore any mercury is eliminated.

New technologies hitting the market usually bring hesitation with good reason but in my opinion the new Organic Light Emitting Diode with its flexible screen will revolutionize the market. Just picture the big screen television being rolled up and taken to a different room. Time will tell for sure but this new breakthrough seems to be a keeper.

Sources:

Sony

PCWorld