Arizona State opens flexible-display center

Using $43.7 million in previously announced grants from the Army Research Lab, Arizona State University has opened a 250,000 square-foot flexible display research center. Their first prototype, a 4-inch, semi-flexible display, is expected to be out later this year. The center hopes to produce full-color flexible displays suitable for battlefield use as well as commercial applications, including displays that can be rolled up or folded. Of course, the Army/ASU project isn't the only flexible-display initiative. Major manufacturers from Asia and Europe and North America are also working on the technology, and palmOne was just awarded a patent for a flexible dual-sided display for use in PDAs. However, the Holy Grail of flexible displays — a low-power, high-res, wireless "newspaper" that you can roll up or fold and throw in your pocket — still remains a long way off.

[Thanks, Ben]

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Great - Brilliant idea.

Shame - It'll SPANK a battery.

Conclusion - All these bits of kit are great, PSP, PVP etc The only thing that will stop them from being revolutionary in terms of say the Betamax or VHS - is our inability to make a decent battery.. We can make fold-scrolling lcd screens but we can't make a slimline battery that'll last more than 4hrs.

A

[seth @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Finally I can be as cool as all the people in Earth: Final Conflict. That has always been a dream of mine.

[Duane @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Damn, Seth beat me to the E:FC reference.
Oh well...

I want my Global, bitches!!!

[Steven Damron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

This is one component of my dream laptop, which I blogged about here: http://www.panix.com/~damron/index.php?entry=entry050120-122756

[tekneex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Yes, that's true about the battery troubles.

Too bad liquid naquadah doesn't exist, or tiny naqhadah reactors :(

Since there was a EF:C ref... I thought I'd follow it with a Stargate SG-1 reference. ;)

[hobgoblin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

most likely these screens will only need power when they are changing what its displaying rather then haveing to maintain current all the time like a lcd screen does.

this could allso result in extreme powergains in the laptop field as the screen is one of those items that eats the most current while maintaining that big desktop of yours (with maybe a 32-bit png wallpaper).

here are some nice images. and observe that you dont need a backlight to read these screens :P

http://www.technodisplay.no/EASLtech.htm

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

GO ARMY!

[msafi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

i'm proud to be a student of arizona state university. go sundevils!

[flybycop @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

an E:FC Global ... I've always wanted one of those! Until then - I'll have to pretend w/my SK II. A lame exchange, but it's where we're at.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

If they use an OLED display in a flexible substrate, then battery consumption might not be as big a deal as you think. I've read that battery consumption on an OLED display is significantly lower than traditional LCD's. Of course, that's all speculation at this point.

[Robert Bayless @ Apr 28th 2007 5:34PM]

Arizona State University should use my system and their true flexible screen would come to life. I have already demonstrated the feasibility. It takes a grant and/or financial support to complete my technology.
Anyone can have ASU contact me.