Sony debuts flexible TV screen

(Credit: Sony)

Like many other TV makers, Sony has been working on screens made with organic light-emitting diodes for some time to produce paper-thin displays as well as save energy. But ratcheting up the competition even further, it just unveiled what it calls the world's first flexible version.

The company claims to have developed a new technology that uses plastic instead of glass to make OLED screens that can actually bend (hopefully without breaking), according to Pink Tentacle. Its 2.5-inch prototype weighs only 1.5 grams--that's 0.053 ounces for the metric-challenged among us.

There's no specific product yet for the technology, but the possibilities seem endless. Wrap-around TV glasses, anyone?

[spm82]

First thought

My first thought when reading this was it being used for "newspapers" as seen on the public transportation in the movie Minority Report. I realize that this is not the most efficient way to deliver breaking news to people, but the thought of being able to put a portable screen in your back pocket without fear of breaking anything? "Sweet" is not a strong enough word.

[Auspex]

Ultimate portable device

I can see a future with a lot of devices using screens like these. If you can roll the screen up then you can drastically shrink down the footprint. You could have something about the size of a small Nokia phone, but be able to pull out a much larger screen for movie watcing, internet, etc.

[Wolfie2k5]

Exactly...

I'm still waiting for one of those devices from that TV series Earth: Final Conflict - which were about 4 or 5 inches long and like an ancient scroll unrolled the screen between two "rollers" which also contained the speaker, processor, and mini camera. Instant video smartphone.

Looks like technology is catching up to yet another Gene Roddenbery wiz-bang futuristic gizmo - even if it is one step at a time.

[fotf]

Transparent landscape enhancers

Just imagine being able to unwrap a transparent plastic, the size of a A3 paper, and see the landscape in front of you through the flexible transparent screen, with pop-up information like names, statistics etc. Combine this with a GPS sevice and imagine !!!

Or else, think of a H(ead) U(p) D(isplay) on the front of your car and all the info you need is in front of you -- no more distraction. When you finish driving your car, take it with you and use it as above! Just imagine !!!!

[n432100]

Red Planet

Kinda reminds me of the movie Red Planet with Val Kilmer. The scene where they crash land on the planet and he uses the flixible screen to find his position on the planet. Very cool stuff.

[bubbaboy]

IT'S ABOUT TIME

Technology is moving at a snails' pace if you ask me. This should already be out there on subways, in my home, on my wrist. Too bad it won't actually happen for another 50 years....

[packjazz]

Snails pace?

I'll have to disagree with you on that one. Technology is moving at such a rapid pace, people can't keep up! You have to buy a new PC every 3 years, you have color streaming video on cell phones, you have cars that can 'tell' you how to get where you want to go, you have 60 inch TV's that can hang on your wall...and every day something better is being pumped out...usually without the most thorough quality control. Snail's pace? You may be someone who has bought into the media's interepretation of technological advancement which made it seem like we'd all be like the Jetsons scooting around in floating cars, but realistically, we are pushing the technology envelope every day...the only thing holding us back is money and resources, those are the things that take time to develop.

[QuietStormX]

They have been working on this for some time.

I'm glad they are showing the Video of the new 3mm flexable display. I'm very interseted in how much power it uses and the maximum size they can go. Waiting till end of year!

[mem9897]

Found the video

"Minority Report" was the first thing I thought of too! Here I found good video of the flex screen that you can use on your blogs. Check it here:

http://www.thenewsroom.com/details/341738/Science+and+Technology?c_id=20191

[soviet_toaster]

Prices for the new screen

It may be abit early but does anybody know a rough idea of the price for these new screens relative to size? preferably an 18 inch screen.

[sferragne]

Plastic screen can mean a lot. Plastic can, with heat, take shapes and reliefs.

The future of cinema
- Take a flexible screen. Make it a 360 degree giant tube large enough to fit people inside. or even better a sphere dome (Plastic allows this. )
- Produce a movie with a 360 degree panorama lens (used al lot in real estate to take 360 pictures)

Result. A movie where the action is happening in front, back and side of you. Imagine a second world war movie like this where you are in the middle of the action. Add some surround sound, pluged with a atmospheric controler (humidity, smoke, heat, cold) sitted on a rotating chair and you have the future of cinema. !!