Flexible displays that can be rolled up and stuck into the back pocket of your Levis were one the most exciting technology breakthroughs we saw last year.
As the idea marches towards reality, funding for it is on the rise. The U.S. Army bankrolled much of the initial research on the technology in 2004. Now it is pouring in another $50 million to support the Arizona State University’s Flexible Display Center, which has been doing a lot of research in the area.
Flexible electronic displays, which have long been in the realm of films like Minority Report and the James Bond franchise, may soon show up in a new generation of portable devices including
e-readers and e-maps. Major consumer electronics companies including LG, Samsung and HP showed prototypes of flexible displays last year and industry experts say the displays could come to market in the next three years.
The U.S. Army’s support could help accelerate that. The Army has committed to sponsoring an additional five years of research and development at the Flexible Display Center. So far, nearly $100 million has gone into the efforts to creating a viable flexible display technology.
So far the Flexible Display Center has developed a six-inch wafer-scale and 370×470 mm display-scale manufacturing pilot lines and related toolsets, it says.
See also:
Flexible Displays Closer to Reality, Thanks to U.S. Army
Top Technology Breakthroughs of 2008
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