The Foldable LCD Screen

[voicegy]

Flex screens would have a great home in offices...even though I'm on a 22" Cinema now, there's times that I could have used twice the space...now imagine a 5 foot long, rectangular curved screen at the edge of the desk where everything I need is always open and available.

Notes
Calendar
Spreadsheet
Web page(s)
My e-mail
Documents
Macrumors.

I'm certain I'll see this within (being safe here) 5 years

 

[Geert]

I saw a keyboard that can be rolled up like a newspaper.
So they only need to make a motherboard etc that can be folded.
so then together with the OLEDs you have a portable that can be rolled up like a newspaper, put in your pocket. and of you go.
Now that would be a great powerbook.

 

[boymerang]

They already have flexible key-boards. and i'm sure they could figure out a way to encase the actual internals of you computer into a more efficient shape/size. bear in mind that the current shape of laptops is really decided by two different things: the size and layout of the keyboard, and screen size. people like having as large a screen as they can, and they like having a full-size keyboard (because americans are fat, and their fingers get sloppy as the keyboard gets smaller). there are no real advantages to having a screen that's flimsy...aside from not breaking when you torture it - but it would also be subjected to environmental distortions (wind) which would really suck. the way around that would be to have a rigid framework...where do you store that when the screen's rolled up? i think a lot of you are starting to put into words these laptop ideas that lend more to tent construction than they do useful computer design.

bear in mind that your LCD, or OLED screens will never be 'foldable'. what would you do to get rid of the creases when you opened it up? iron it? how very convenient. if you wanted to roll it up when you were done with it - the roll could only be as short as the screen's shortist edge...so a 20" screen would be an ungainly 12" long. or it could 'bend' into a square shape...you'd just have to make sure that the 'creases' always maintained enough of a radius to prevent cracking. but i genuinely don't think you'll ever see a screen that can be folded-up origami style and put into your shirt-pocket - unless that screen was also disposable.

and of course OLED screens will eventually be cheaper than LCD screens are currently - LCD screens will eventually be cheaper than LCD screens are currently!

 

[Handmedia]

Oops! I ripped my LCD.

 

[encro]

LEP Technology

LEP: Light Emitting Polymers. (ie. Plastic)

Now there is something to talk about.

Imagine printing up a new screen on your ink jet with a LEP cartridge.

I dont think resolution is quite there yet but when it is this technology will open up as the main display form in use. This is what foldable, disposable and flexible could be about...

bounce here for a look:
http://www.cdtltd.co.uk/

 

[ftaok]

Originally posted by boymerang
]and of course OLED screens will eventually be cheaper than LCD screens are currently - LCD screens will eventually be cheaper than LCD screens are currently!

Well, once they perfect the OLED, it'll be a lot cheaper than LCDs because the materials are inherently cheaper. So when LCDs come down in price, OLEDs would still be much cheaper.

Plus, I think that OLEDs would last a lot longer. I base this only on the fact that LEDs last many many many years. So if OLEDs behave like LEDs, that's another plus.

 

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by ftaok
Well, once they perfect the OLED, it'll be a lot cheaper than LCDs because the materials are inherently cheaper. So when LCDs come down in price, OLEDs would still be much cheaper.

Plus, I think that OLEDs would last a lot longer. I base this only on the fact that LEDs last many many many years. So if OLEDs behave like LEDs, that's another plus.

And LCDs require more material and separate layers. OLED is one layer and no glass. So it has many more advantages. OLEDs should eventually replace LCDs, but it will take several years.