A true digital equivalent to paper is moving closer to reality with LG’s new flexible OLED display. Still in an early prototype stage, the company had a working flexible display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Los Vegas last week. Measuring 18” diagonally, the OLED display is able to be rolled up and bent with ease while the display remains on.
LG is hoping its bendable display will be used in future televisions that can be rolled out to a massive size and then easily rolled up and stored in a closet or cabinet out of sight when not being used. Of course, this flexible display will also have uses in smaller products like portable computer monitors and tablets in new form factors.
Image credit: BBC.com
Currently, this flexible OLED is not without its limitations. It can be rolled up or bent, but not folded flat. Further, the model on display at CES was only able to be rolled up in a one specific direction (from the bottom left corner to the top right). LG claimed that while it is possible to roll it up in other directions, it is more complicated due to the way the circuitry is positioned and the display is at greater risk of being damaged.
Speaking of damage, BBC reporter Dave Lee notes that the prototype had several noticeable dead pixels likely resulting from repeated bending and excessive handling of the display. This display, it seems, is rather fragile for a display much less one meant to be regularly manipulated.
Image credit: BBC.com
With that said, this prototype is a promising step towards a viable bendable display. OLED technology is really what is making this possible since the pixels themselves are emitting light and LG does not have to worry about integrating a separate backlight. Final products are still a ways out, and there are definitely more roadblocks and kinks to iron out, but I'm interested in seeing where LG and other manufacturers take this technology!
If you're interested in this display, you can find more photos and a hands-on video on this BBC news article.
PC Perspective's CES 2016 coverage is sponsored by Logitech.
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This stuff is taking forever
This stuff is taking forever to come out. Universal Display Corporation made the first prototype that I know of back in 2001-ish. Sony had the first live demo at CES back in 2004. Each year since, LG and Samsung seem to alternate between who can make a bendier prototype. That makes about 15 years and not ONE device on the market… unless you count the pre-bent LG Flex in 2013 and the current Galaxy S6 Edge.
there was a TV that released
there was a TV that released last year that can change between flat and curved with a little motor. Not OLED though, I think.
I think you’re thinking of
I think you’re thinking of the LG OLED. They showed it last year at CES and IFA and this year, but you still can’t buy one.
Yup, this technology is
Yup, this technology is advancing, but it is still a long ways out from shipping products. They can certainly make the displays, but making the displays usable and durable enough for everyday use seems to be a huge hurdle.