LG Display has unveiled its pioneering bendable plastic e-paper display (EPD) that may give traditional newspapers and magazines a run for their money. The South Korean tech giant has been working on advanced display technology research for years. The technology will be used in e-books and is expected to revolutionize the industry. The company has already embarked on plans for mass production of the gadget, targeting increased e-book marketability. LG Display has distinguished itself as a manufacturer of thin film transistor liquid crystal displays. The gadget is due for release in European markets this month.
The EPD features a malleable plastic body with 6-inch XGA e-ink flexible screen boasting super slimness of 0.7mm thickness. The gadget weighs 14g, with an impressive resolution pegged at 1024 x 768. According to LG, the bendable plastic EPD can withstand high temperatures and sustain strong hardiness. The gadget also features a slim protective film and is capable of bending at a range of 40 degrees. LG Display hopes the gadget will help enhance the marketability and appeal of the e-book market segment. The e-paper device offers users the traditional paper reading experience but on a digital platform. University of Toronto researchers also recently unveiled advancedflat panel display systems capable of rolling up like newspapers.
LG believes continued technological advancements in EPD will give rise to thinner, lighter and long lasting e-books that may offer users more than the typical smart phone or tablet can. Sang Duck Yeo, Head of operations for LG Display, noted that advances such as plastic e-paper display will enhance affordability by reducing prices, lowering eye fatigue and providing more efficient electricity utilization. The gadget was put through a series of stress tests such as dropping it from a height of five feet and hitting it with a urethane mallet. The device survived every kind of imaginable torture with no scratch or breakage. Separately, Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute last year also unveiled e-paper technology which it expects to be used mainly as easily updated signage and posters in shops and other public areas.
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