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That was quick - new display already on show

9 January 2013

Just two short days ago, in the first column of the year, I predicted "I'm picking we'll see some interesting breakthroughs in display technology over the coming 12 months".

Well how about this: Revolutionary 'paper' tablet unveiled

You'll notice in that article that they're also demonstrating a colour e-ink flexible display... hmmm!

I wonder just what applications this technology could have and what it will be used for as the price falls.

Imagine if product packaging included this material. Every box of cornflakes could come with a movie for the kids which would be displayed on the back of the packet.

And how about a 23-inch touch-screen that you could keep in your briefcase then unroll and use on any convenient flat surface when you needed it?

Of course the cynics will probably complain that this technology is too expensive to become part of the throw-away society -- but it's almost certainly just a matter of time before that changes.

I recall when a 10MB hard drive would set you back the best part of $800 -- and now 4GB USB flash drives are basically "give-away" items.

The first Philips flat-screen plasma TV set cost over $20K. A far more impressive LCD and plasma screens can now be had for just a few hundred dollars.

One thing is for sure... the cost of electronics just keeps dropping and today's exotic, expensive technology is tomorrow's throw-away device.

So, if price was no option, what kind of applications do readers see for paper-thin, flexible display technologies?

Would a paper-back-style ebook reader be more attractive than a Kindle or iPad -- if only because you could roll it up and stick it in your jacket pocket?

How would having a much larger pull-out/roll-up screen change the way we used our smartphones, tablets and other portable devices?

Or is this super-thin/flexible display technology just another solution in search of a problem that doesn't really exist?

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