CES09: OLED displays getting thinner, more flexibile

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CES09: OLED displays getting thinner, more flexibile

Chronicle
Sony's Howard Stringer shows off a prototype flexible OLED screen

Organic light-emitting diodes are still early in their deployment but the future is bright. I mean literally bright. Have you seen these things? They're sweet.
Sony is big into OLED after having shown off a new 11-inch display last year at CES. This year, the company is showing a prototype that is just under a millimeter thick as well as bigger displays in the 21 and 27-inch range. CEO Howard Stringer also showed off a flexible OLED display at his keynote this morning.
While a video of Beyonce played on the small display, Stringer pinched the screen causing it to curve. "How many people have the ability to squeeze Beyonce," he asked.
But that's the thing with OLED, it's not only brilliant in color and contrast, (more than 1 million to 1 contrast ratio on Sony's latest screen) but it's super thin and flexible because it doesn't require a backlight like an LCD display.
At an OLED Association booth last night, they showed off the way the U.S. Army is testing bendable OLED screens on wrist modules for soldiers, who could get updates or view maps on the displays.
You can also create OLED displays that are transparent so you can see through to the other side. Or you can just make some very simple lights that are bright and energy efficient.
While it may take a while to see some of these uses in widespread action, the technology is there. So get ready more super brilliant displays not just for TVs but in a wide array of places.