Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a new e-Display. The breakthrough is expected to maximize screen brightness and readability, while significantly reducing power consumption compared to current-gen devices.
UC along with their partners Gamma Dynamics, Dupont and Sun Chemical developed the display after seven years of work.
John Rudolph president of Gamma Dynamics said in a press release that “the breakthrough is even more impressive when you realize that similar research efforts elsewhere have lasted a decade without achieving similar results.”
Lead researcher Jason Heikenfeld was able to break barriers that nobody else in the computer science field could break.
Heikenfeld said “What we’ve developed breaks down a significant barrier to bright electronic displays that don’t require a heavy battery to power them.”
According to Heikenfeld there are two types of electronic devices. There are those that offer limited function and slow speed but require little power to operate. An example of this type of device would include an e-reader like Kindle.
There are also devices like cell phones, laptops and the iPad. These devices provide high quality colors and high-speed capability for video but they need to use a lot of power to perform these tasks.
You used to not be able to have high functionality without consuming a lot of power. Now, thanks to UC’s research you can have it all, you can have speed, bright colors and a minimal manufacturing cost.
The best thing about this new advancement might be the fact that the new display can be manufactured with current facilities and equipment that are already in use. Part of the plan in developing the eDisplay was making it so that it could made without having to build all new factories and tools.
This advancement will change the display technology in a wide variety of handheld devices. The Kindle’s capabilities will be upgraded, and smart phones and iPads will need less power and their screens will be easy to read even in bright sunlight.
Right now it is estimated that the new eReader will first be seen by consumers as shelf labels and marketing displays in grocery stores. It will be probably be at least three years before they are deployed this way.
There are visual displays already being used in grocery stores around the world. The problem is that the LCD display requires a lot of power and the batteries are not powerful enough for the screen s to be bright and attract customer’s attention.
The new eReader display will be ultra-bright and will have the visual capability to catch a customer’s eye from across the room. The batteries will most likely be able to last for five years before they need to be replaced.
I am excited about this new development and how it will impact my favorite handheld devices. Think how much better smartphones and laptops will be when their screens are bright and clear and don’t use up anywhere near the power they used to. Less charging and dead batteries rules.
The time for that is almost here.
