HP and ASU Demo Prototype Flexible Display

Engadget is reporting that HP and Arizona State University's cooperation has given birth to a new prototype flexible display. Using "self-aligned imprint lithography" (SAIL) the prototype device is easy to manufacture, environmentally friendly, and incredibly resilient. Unfortunately it is still a prototype, so don't expect to see this tech hit the streets for quite a while yet.

Bistable

[Sockatume]

Even more interestingly, it's a type of colour bistable display, so combined with the roll-to-roll process it really is electronic paper. If it's as hardy as they say, I guess we can look forward to a "real" e-ink cover in Esquire in five to ten years.

Video -- Monochrome Display only :/

[jdb2]

Does anyone know where to find a video of the RGB display? A video of the immediate predecessor of the above is available here [asu.edu] ( dynamic stress testing )

jdb2

Re:Still needs backlight

[Amouth]

actualy if they did make it completely out of (basicly) clear plastic - i wonder if it would have the same optical effect that plexi glass or lexan does.. where youcan put a beam of light through it and any holes or imperfections cause reflection at 90 degrees.

meaning they could do a roll out display with white LED's at the end of the screen - light would travel through the display untill it hit a colored pixel and refract light out... i do see a color bleading issue with this but would still be a neat way of supplying light

just an idea

Re:Bistable

[xonar]

Maybe everyone would own a "news-paper", refreshing with new, up-to-date news every day.

Re:Still needs backlight

[Amouth]

true - but another way of doing it is this,

if you think of how a back light on an LCD works there is one light source that is injected into a peice of glass and there is a reflective layer around all the edges and the back with a polirized layer (usualy 3-4) on the front then the LCD.. the idea being the light will bounce around untill it is at relitivly 90 degree of this the only part that can't be made flexiable is the glass and the LCD .. well this is the LCD .. and it is clear platic.. could it not be made 2x as thick with this tec on the top layer and the light shot in the bottom.. adding the polirizing layers shouldnt' be too hard.. and as this is a double sided display you wouldn't need the reflective surface ont he back as the other side would be another set of polirizers. each layer acking as a refractor for the other side.

this would be really neat to play with..

A little early to be happy?

[rezalas]

I'm not seeing anywhere in the article (or in any other article) about the displays being color (or how many colors). I watched the milestone videos and read the ASU project site, but beyond saying flexible color displays is their goal I don't see anything that says they've achieved it. Also, that image in the site looks like very old stock footage someone made as apposed to a demo unit. The ones shown on the site are all the size of a business card.