How has the display technology evolved ( 1940 – 2020 )?
Well known example is the Amazon Kindle, which many readers loved placed compared to the rest. Now when we talk about the term display technology, it’s quite similar to what is said above, but the distinguishing factor would be the medium used to present. Few examples of those mediums would be monitored, screens, projectors and many more. The next question would be, what is displayed? Well, my friend anything and everything. From text to pictures to videos… it’s a never-ending list. At the beginning of this revolutionary technology, there were only a cathode ray tube and that marvel started it all!
The cathode ray tube came into action in 1897, was invented by Karl Ferdinand Braun. This device displays images ‘via electron beams bombarding a phosphorescent surface’. These images then showcase electronic waves which are displayed on televisions and computer screens. The cathode ray technology was prominently used until the recent innovations such as LCD, Plasma and OLED came into the picture.
Now’s the time to take a trip down the memory lane. Most of the elders in our homes would deeply reminisce this invention. Yes, it’s our dear Solari board aka the Flip-Flap board, which came into existence in the 1950’s. This is an electromechanical display device that presents changeable alphanumeric text, and occasionally fixed graphics. These flaps are then accurately rotated to display the desired graphic or character. Solari boards were fully on display in airports and railway stations to show the time or flight information system.
Moving on to the 1960’s when the first flat panel display tv’s were released to the public. These displays worked on the basis of monochrome plasma technology, which uses small cells containing plasma; ionized gas which responds to electric fields. This technology became obsolete with the rise of low cost OLEDs.
The game changer of display technology arrived in 1965, when the idea of Touchscreen technology was introduced by Eric Johnson. The product itself was later introduced to the market in the 1980’s and 90’s by big players such as Fujitsu, Microsoft, Apple, IBM and many more.
In the 1970’s the first electronic, paper or e-paper was developed and its popularity shoot up in the early 2000’s. This technology was widely accepted as an effective alternate, to paper as this is flexible, reusable , can be erased and rewritten over and over again while still maintaining the luster of a traditional paper. Well known example is the Amazon kindle which many readers loved.
Thin film transistor LCD made an appearance in the 1980’s, these are LCD variants that integrate thin film transistor technology to enhance and uplift image quality. This innovation is still widely used in TVs, computer monitors, satellite navigation systems and various others.
1995 witnessed the introduction of the world’s first plasma display, which was 107cm thanks to Fujitsu. Consequently, numerous competitors like Philips entered the market with similar technology and the price war was expensive. The average TV was priced at an astonishing rate of $15k.
In the passage of time the TV has considerably reduced in size from the gigantic Cathode ray tube to the mega – slim Organic Light- Emitting Diode (OLED) which we see around us today. The self- emitting pixels of today’s TV provide precise colors and portray sharper images to improve viewing quality.
Experts share their opinion that the next massive step for display technology would be virtual reality and the gaming industry which are in top trends these days. From then till now the display technology just keeps getting better and better and still its expected to become better and better.