It's good to see advances in materials leading to possible innovations in the products we buy. Organic nanomaterials are reported to have "tunable" properties, and maybe could be used to develop a substitute for rare earth, tantalum, and other commodity materials that have met with high demand recently.
Unfortunately, OLEDS are likely to remain fairly expensive even as they become more widespread. There hasn't been a lot of investment in volume production facilities for OLED for a number of reasons: one, companies are waiting to see if they take off; two, the yields even on small screens is still low; three, there are still some contrast and color challenges to figure out before they can compete with LCDs. Once they do take off, however, they stand to be very competitive on price because of the inkjet-like technology they use and the potential for reel-to-reel maufacturing on huge sheets of plastic or other substrates.
This is exciting news on many levels! First is the potential of this technology to revolutionize electronic displays. Next is the unleashing of creativity and smart ideas coming out of our universities - the old American source of innovation.
But more importantly is the collaboration of the colleges, the private sector, and the government. This is the true American spirit and I am elated to see its re-awakening. Thanks for sharing.
I agree with you on the amount of research that is being done by companies like samsung and LG to come out with efficient and cheapest LCD displays. And surely OLED's will be able to do much more than hand held displays in the future.
OLEDs do seem a really cool invention. Since these can be printed and used on many materials, the flexibility seems the key factor here. I think these can revolutionize display technology in the future.
Barbara, any idea about the cost of OLEDs in terms of the initial manufacturing cost? I think the cost factor will play a major role in the widespread use of OLEDs.
OLED's are definately the wave of the future. With the flexability and low power consumption they are set for a large takeover. As you said, one of the pitfalls right now is needing mass production to be able to bring the overall cost to a reasonable level. It seems like if more companies were to work on some joint ventures we could soon see some very remarkable products and components hit the market.
We supply chips to Korean display developers like Samsung and LG and it is truly amazing to visit their R&D facilities where one can see the technology being developed first hand. I visited a few years ago when OLEDs were easily large enough for handhelds but struggling to meet the needs of the TV market. However I believe the benefits are great enough that these companies will figure out how to manufacture large formats in high volume with high yields. Of particular interest to me these days is the E-ink Kindle diplay which I find truly remarkable and the various efforts going in to 3-D displays without requiring silly goggles.
Barbara, Display part is the end product part of all appliances. In other way we can say as the point of interaction with the user. So any enhancement or modification will get the product a better look and style. Eventhough, functionality and feature wise the product is not good, Display can make that product much attractive.
Thanks for the input...I thought I might be stretching things a bit but once some of the technology hurdles are overcome, there's no reason we can't have flexible solar-powered displays, and I agree--the display is becoming more and more important in terms of user interface and the whole user experience of a product. Which is why, no matter how good the displays get, I will not read books or watch videos on a smartphone!
Barbara, I am really convinced: it is not a joke! Yes, display is becoming a key component in electronic world for the fact is basically a "building block" for conceiving platform or services more complex. And speaking about end users, display provides a natural and emotional interaction at human level. Several players are growing up their business around it and new unknown market is coming, mixing communications-security-confort. Let me mention for example Legrand, but I am sure other worldwide players will arrive soon.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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