This blog post explores the evolution of display technology from black-and-white TVs to transparent OLEDs and its limitless potential through various examples.
From the first black-and-white TVs of the 1960s, through PDP and LCD, to the 3D TVs now gradually emerging, display technology has evolved relentlessly alongside the medium of television. Early black-and-white TVs were limited in screen resolution and size, with significant constraints on viewing angles and color reproduction. However, as technology advanced, screens gradually grew larger, colors became more vivid, and displays evolved to be thinner and sharper. Particularly in South Korea, major corporations began investing heavily in the display industry starting in 1997 when LG Electronics independently developed a 40-inch PDP TV. This enabled domestic display technology to gain global competitiveness. As a result, Korea now holds the world’s top position in this field, with annual exports reaching $34.5 billion and a global market share of 45.8%.
For decades, the display industry was confined to the TV or monitor market. However, with the recent widespread adoption of smartphones and tablet PCs, its application scope is expanding. The demand for high resolution and low power consumption in highly portable devices has presented new challenges for display technology, driving even faster technological advancement. Furthermore, these display devices are expanding into wearable devices like smart watches and augmented reality (AR) devices, finding use in various aspects of our daily lives.
The film ‘Minority Report,’ often cited when discussing future display technologies, showcases various innovative display technologies like transparent screens, 3D advertising banners, and display newspapers. These technologies in the film were based on actual research being conducted at MIT at the time. Now, over a decade after the film’s release, the imaginations of that era are becoming reality. Future display technologies currently under research include transparent displays, flexible displays, and ultra-low-cost displays. These technologies are driving change not only in visual enjoyment but also in information delivery, convenience, creativity, and other aspects.
Transparent displays have long attracted attention due to their unique ability to naturally display information alongside the background. However, early commercialization was difficult due to high manufacturing costs, low durability, and optical limitations. The commonly used LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology creates images by controlling the light transmittance of liquid crystals, a substance in a state between solid and liquid. It requires a pair of polarizers and optical films, imposing significant limitations on transparency. Furthermore, being a backlight-based technology, achieving complete transparency was challenging.
However, these limitations are gradually being overcome thanks to the rapid advancement of Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (AMOLED). OLEDs operate by injecting electrons and holes into both sides of an organic light-emitting layer; these particles recombine within the layer to emit light. Since the organic light-emitting layer is typically transparent, transparent OLEDs can be achieved by constructing both electrodes transparently. AMOLED, in particular, offers lower power consumption and higher resolution compared to PMOLED, making it primarily used in high-end electronic devices. This technology is playing a pivotal role in driving innovation within the display industry.
Transparent displays based on AMOLED technology hold significant potential for application across diverse industries. For instance, in smart home technology, windows made into transparent displays can function as ‘smart windows’ showing weather, time, news, etc., enhancing user experience by providing real-time indoor and outdoor information. Furthermore, in the automotive industry, augmented reality displays are being developed to show driving information in real-time on windshields or side mirrors, enabling application in future vehicles that simultaneously provide safety and convenience.
Such applications demonstrate that transparent displays can contribute to performing entirely new functions and roles, going beyond simply replacing existing display technologies. Furthermore, once transparent displays become commercialized, they are highly likely to be utilized in diverse ways across education, healthcare, advertising, and other fields. For instance, in hospitals, patient conditions could be displayed in real-time on transparent screens, enhancing medical staff efficiency. Museums and art galleries could adopt new exhibition techniques, transparently displaying relevant information over exhibits.
Innovative technologies like transparent displays have been showcased at various flat-panel display exhibitions since 2009, with commercialization expected in the near future. Indeed, some market research indicates full-scale commercialization began around 2024, with the market size projected to reach approximately 32 trillion won by around 2030. Thus, future display technology is not merely focused on increasing screen resolution but is gradually expanding into new areas where displays were previously unused. This transformation is expected to go beyond technological innovation, changing the very fabric of daily life.
