OLED Televisions: The Next Generation In TV Technology
There has been an awful lot of noise within the TV manufacturing industry about the rise of OLED televisions over the last few years. Recently, this entered the public the domain as companies start to launch the technology. But is it really worth all the attention, how does it work, and what will it cost?
Firstly it is important to discuss just what OLED means. Standing for Organic Light Emitting Diode, these diodes give off their light in a different way than what has gone before. Its predecessors came in the form of LCD (liquid crystal display) and LED (Light Emitting Diode) television screens. The screen is made up of several conducting layers which emit light through an organic process; thus a backlighting function is not required.
This allows far richer and deeper colors to be produced. Indicative of this is the reproduction of “true” black; essentially the same black seen in nature. This is fundamental to the industry, as the quality of black produced defines the quality of the complete imagery.
This is just the start of where the next generation in TV comes in however. Because the screen itself produces the light, there is no need for separate technology to be built into the unit. Resultantly, a thinner screen is produced, whilst they can be manipulated into a host of different shapes.
The screens are also virtually indestructible, so could easily be turned to other uses such as; billboards that curve round corners or clam shell cell phones that are entirely made up of a touch-screen. This is for the future though; presently the major benefit is in TV screens that are up three millimetres in thickness!
However what the screen “lacks” in depth, it also certainly LACKS in size. Presently, the biggest screen made, (and shown to the public), is a rather small fifteen inches. However, despite this, resolution and contrast are amazing.
Other than screen size, the obvious downside when looking for OLED televisions is the price. You can expect to pay a minimum of two thousand five hundred dollars for a screen size of just eleven inches. For that amount you can get a good quality forty inch (and upwards) LCD screen, so this puts it beyond the reach of most.
They also have a relatively short life span. Conversely, the main competitor in the market, the LED television is very generous in its longevity. Availability at the moment is also not very high; though this in itself is indicative of the very latest technological releases.
It is still a relatively young technology though; with a lot of advancements yet to be made. The price will of course fall as demand picks up, the technology really becomes commercially viable and life span is improved.
In summary, the advantages of OLED televisions now and for the future will outweigh any disadvantages. They are the greener option; subsequently consuming fewer resources and the picture clarity is unparalleled.
OLED Monitors
First there was the LCD television, and then there was the Plasma television. Following that was the newly released LED television, but Sony is not stopping there. They are newly releasing the OLED television that is said to make all the other types of televisions a thing of the past.
The OLED television is something that is definitely recommended for any household. Think of a television that is completely flexible, no more than a few ounces in weight, and about as thin as a piece of cardboard. This new device has been put under the most serious tests. It is even able to be run over by a car and still work the same. “It is basically indestructible” says Sony.
These OLED displays are simply to die for. They are packed with endless amounts of amazing features. The most amazing feature is that it uses up less electricity as LCD televisions and do not require in anyway a backlight in order to function. So what makes these crystal clear images show? There is overlaying thin film transistors that cross each other many times forming a grid. This grid forms what you see on the screen. These thin film transistors are one hundred percent completely organic, meaning that no harm to the environment is caused. This produces a much clearer picture at only millimetres of thinness.
With Sony leading the way followed by Samsung this new technology does not just belong in the world of home entertainment but computing also. This brings possibilities for OLED displays into the business world for use in displays and monitors, with the impressive images and benefits from being super thin and light (with an OLED monitor measuring only 10 mm thick) being applicable to the workplace, the potential is massive.
OLED televisions and displays are such an advancement that at this early stage seem set to blow away their competitors in the LCD, LED and plasma markets. But as would be expected Sony will first start to introduce the smaller versions of they displays to the market with the larger displays planned one the market is established. Because of the advances and improvement in picture quality even the smaller displays will be so impressive that they expect them to become the market leaders, with the prospect of the large displays coming at a later date.
OLED actually stands for organic light emitting diodes, basic technology behind the stunning picture quality that we are beginning to see. With the latest LED televisions and displays already producing super high quality pictures it is hard to believe that OLED displays are set to eclipse what we are seeing. But this new form of display is set to take over the home and workplace cementing itself in both the home entertainment and computing worlds, with stunning high quality displays and ease of use.
As for the immediate future of LED TVs and displays, we should expect to see the first Sony produced displays appearing with Samsung shortly afterwards. The first displays produced will be 13 inches in size, but this is surely the start for what is potentially a new expanding market with larger improved sets set to follow in the very near future.