LG starts Production of e Paper displays, your thoughts?

hopeful_builder · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:16

Flexible e-paper displays have been the stuff of our collective mobile dreams for years, but the technology is typically relegated to showroom floors at CES, MWC and CTIA.

But that is all about to change, as LG recently kicked off mass production of its long-awaited flexible e-paper displays.   

According to The Verge, the 6-inch, 1024 x 768 e-paper screens rolling of the production lines are capable of safely bending up to a cool 40 degrees.

Although LG has yet to issue an official press release or statement, a number of Korean publications confirm the plastic-based screens are already shipping to Chinese manufacturers.  

Meaning, e-readers using the flexible tech are likely to be manufactured in the very near future, with bendable devices hitting parts of Europe sometime this spring - perhaps even by the end of April.  

As Nicole Scott of Netbook News notes, the display is only 0.7mm thick and covered with a protective film identical to those found on a mobile phone.  

Nevertheless, the product is meant to be so rugged that LG apparently had no problem dropping the e-paper from a height of 1.5 meters (5 feet) or smacking it repeatedly with a rubber mallet.   

Personally, I think the concept of flexible e-paper displays is pretty sweet indeed, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing some of the cool e-reader form factors slated to hit the streets in 2012.

http://www.tgdaily.com/mobility-features/62413-lg-kicks-off-production-of-e-paper-displays

Pestilence · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:26

Interesting tech, but I reckon it'll be a few years at least before it gets fully ironed out (no pun intended) and becomes a mass-market possibility.

I can see a backlash of morons who've bent theirs beyond the limit or thought it just had to be nigh-on indestructible because "why else would they sell something so flimsy?!??".

Still, given time the tech has some serious promise.

hopeful_builder · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:33

Pestilence said:
Interesting tech, but I reckon it'll be a few years at least before it gets fully ironed out (no pun intended) and becomes a mass-market possibility.

I can see a backlash of morons who've bent theirs beyond the limit or thought it just had to be nigh-on indestructible because "why else would they sell something so flimsy?!??".

Still, given time the tech has some serious promise.

lol yes I can see that happening too. I did laugh at the review where they say it has withstood several hits with a RUBBER mallet, whats next a glass hammer? while its held up sky hooks?

All in all I hope this can one day make it to mobile phones. just imagine un-folding your mobile out to a 10 inch, 15 inch or 23 inch screen!

although, I just hope they dont fold them like the old style maps

Mat · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:35

My thoughts...?

"That's nice..."

LeJosh · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:37

All I can really say is: cool.

FNGsam · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:38

hopeful_builder said:
All in all I hope this can one day make it to mobile phones. just imagine un-folding your mobile out to a 10 inch, 15 inch or 23 inch screen!

This would be quite awesome. Where you can use it folded up as a smaller display but can fold it out and hang it on the wall or similar to watch a show or keep everyone on the tube entertained!

fornowagain · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:43

hopeful_builder said:
lol yes I can see that happening too. I did laugh at the review where they say it has withstood several hits with a RUBBER mallet, whats next a glass hammer? while its held up sky hooks?

You do know a rubber mallet is perfectly normal and a very common tool?

Curio · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:49

fornowagain said:
You do know a rubber mallet is perfectly normal and a very common tool?

Maybe it was one of these though: http://www.cutebitz.com/images/products/mallets_mallet2.png

Pestilence · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:50

fornowagain said:
You do know a rubber mallet is perfectly normal and a very common tool?

I think the mental image of a squeaky rubber mallet was the first one to arrive.

Jokester · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:51

What use is something that bends only 40 degrees? You can't fold it or anything.

fornowagain · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:52

Curio said:
Maybe it was one of these though: http://www.cutebitz.com/images/products/mallets_mallet2.png

No that's quite obviously a pinky punky mallet, I can see your confusion but subtle different.

Pestilence said:
I think the mental image of a squeaky rubber mallet was the first one to arrive.

Not to me, but then I don't have a squeaky mallet in my tool box

hopeful_builder · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:56

fornowagain said:
You do know a rubber mallet is perfectly normal and a very common tool?

very aware. I used to a be a carpenter/ joiner and used these fitting beads on the rare occasion we were asked to fit plastic windows. I just didn't see the point in them hitting the screen with it

hopeful_builder · 30 Mar 2012 at 16:57

Jokester said:
What use is something that bends only 40 degrees? You can't fold it or anything.

yes but its a start. I would imagine a screen that can fold all the way is already in prototype. That will be available next year, when everyone's rushed out to but this version lol

Begbie · 30 Mar 2012 at 17:03

There is videos of Samsungs flexi screens getting smashed with a hammer on Youtube (in work can't link)

Personally this is the next step in monitor tech, muchos excited. The tech world is booming at the moment.

fornowagain · 30 Mar 2012 at 17:06

hopeful_builder said:
very aware. I used to a be a carpenter/ joiner and used these fitting beads on the rare occasion we were asked to fit plastic windows. I just didn't see the point in them hitting the screen with it

I imagine to show it can take kinetic impact without damage, the hard edge on a metal tool would localise the impact force considerably.

fiveub · 30 Mar 2012 at 18:34

Begbie said:
There is videos of Samsungs flexi screens getting smashed with a hammer on Youtube (in work can't link)

Personally this is the next step in monitor tech, muchos excited. The tech world is booming at the moment.

I agree. Are there any more photos of this stuff? It has always interested me how screens are always advancing to get thinner and more flexable. Soon you will be able to have a large 360 degree screen which would be amazing. Or just a curved wall mountable screen which is similar to having 3 monitors but take up less room and no issue with bezels.

Cosimo · 30 Mar 2012 at 18:44

hopeful_builder said:
Although LG has yet to issue an official press release or statement, a number of Korean publications confirm the plastic-based screens are already shipping to Chinese manufacturers.  

They have put out a press release:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/lg-flexible-e-paper-display-launch/

hopeful_builder · 30 Mar 2012 at 19:09

5UB said:
I agree. Are there any more photos of this stuff? It has always interested me how screens are always advancing to get thinner and more flexable. Soon you will be able to have a large 360 degree screen which would be amazing. Or just a curved wall mountable screen which is similar to having 3 monitors but take up less room and no issue with bezels.

possibly a 360 Degree monitor hat/glasses! imagine that!

These are exciting times in terms of tech

Energize · 30 Mar 2012 at 20:39

What use is a 360 degree screen when humans have such a restricted field of view?

ash_scotland88 · 30 Mar 2012 at 20:48

Energize said:
What use is a 360 degree screen when humans have such a restricted field of view?

For use in museums, exhibitions and such likes. But then projector set up would always be cheaper I imagine.

One thought I had for these would be when the screen is a sphere. But again limited usage and cheaper alternatives out there, also used for the same stuff as listed above.