If you’re excited for the newest addition to the wireless internet trend – being able to take internet with you wherever you go and enjoy a multitude of entertainment platforms at any time during the day with (literally) no strings attached – you could enjoy the new technological advancements that are being tested currently.
If you’ve ever held a smartphone or small tablet, you’ll notice that despite the small size, there’s still a bit of bulk to it. Most of that weight comes directly from the screen as that’s easily the heaviest part of the entire device. This could change within the next ten years or so however as the screen industry, which is growing by the day, starts to identify ways to create screens that allow more movement, less weight, and more flexibility.
Currently the people at places such as Lux Research (who expertly analyze and research screen and glass technology for things such as mobile devices and computers) are seriously looking into making these screens bend and move in any way, shape, or form the user wants.
This would open up a lot of doors for technology should they be able to perfect it. Right now mobile users and technology buffs are restricted by using flat surfaces or laptops that must remain at a ninety-degree angle in order for the screen to be usable, but this could all change.
Implementing the ability to bend screens could mean monitors that are hung or taped to the computer room wall, mobile devices that wrap around your wrist rather than stay in your pocket, or giving devices much more indestructability (since they won’t be as prone to shattering as normal screens are).
This is all very exciting but there are problems with the technology; or, rather, being able to create and sustain the technology.
The parts that such a technological development requires are quite expensive even when they’re bought in mass amounts, which means the devices will be quite expensive to produce and will be more expensive to sell. Not only are the parts for flexible device screens expensive, but they could be slightly difficult to obtain, making the labor behind these pieces jack up the prices of them even more.
Even if they were able to obtain the parts easily and have them shipped relatively cheaply, marketing is still one of the biggest problems that these screen makers face. Despite the fact that society is constantly changing and wanting more from technology, they aren’t sure that it will sell as quickly or as effectively as it would require to make a profit.
There is also the issue of not having the required prototypes available for showcases. Sony released a prototype of a flexible screen back in the year 2007, but all has been quiet on their technological front since then. Samsung made claims that they would have the prototypes ready by the year 2012, but it’s been over a year now and they are now saying that the technology is under development.
It’s a good idea and it could work if they can get everything in order, but there are quite a few obstacles to get out of the way first. There are chances that by the time everything is ready, there could be a market for it, which is good news, but until then, it’s all just research going toward the next step in technology and development.
