Nano-pixel discovery, screens of the future?

owly · 07-10-2014, 03:43 AM

Heard about this on Swedish Radios Science news,

"A new discovery [at Oxford University]will make it possible to create pixels just a few hundred nanometres across that could pave the way for extremely high-resolution and low-energy thin, flexible displays for applications such as 'smart' glasses, synthetic retinas, and foldable screens."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0709140115.htm

Greg Anos · 07-10-2014, 10:11 AM

Excellent breakthrough.

But, I'd guess it'll be 10-20 years before you see any commercial product.

HarryT · 07-10-2014, 11:49 AM

BBC News article about it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28231084

rkomar · 07-10-2014, 10:31 PM

Miniscule pixels would make nicer looking fonts, but I don't think it would fit in very well with the current way we render images to be displayed. Current E-Ink pixels are roughly 100 microns in size (for a 250 dpi display). 1 micron pixels would increase the size of the display buffer by 10000 times. So, from about 1 MB to 10 GB needed to be computed and transferred on each screen refresh. That would make updating the screen intolerably slow using today's technology (especially in low-powered ereaders). We'd need something different for such displays, perhaps some kind of vector rather than pixel renderer.

owly · 07-11-2014, 04:37 AM

Maybe different contact lens applications?

HarryT · 07-11-2014, 04:45 AM

Yes, the applications lie more in very small screens that are close to the eye, than in large screens read at a distance. It has tremendous potential for "wearable" screens.

crich70 · 07-16-2014, 01:17 AM

Interesting.

07-10-2014, 03:43 AM	#1
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	Nano-pixel discovery, screens of the future? Heard about this on Swedish Radios Science news, "A new discovery [at Oxford University]will make it possible to create pixels just a few hundred nanometres across that could pave the way for extremely high-resolution and low-energy thin, flexible displays for applications such as 'smart' glasses, synthetic retinas, and foldable screens." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0709140115.htm

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07-10-2014, 10:11 AM	#2
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,375 Karma: 35440406 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Excellent breakthrough. But, I'd guess it'll be 10-20 years before you see any commercial product.

07-10-2014, 11:49 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	BBC News article about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28231084

07-10-2014, 10:31 PM	#4
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,014 Karma: 18765431 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	Miniscule pixels would make nicer looking fonts, but I don't think it would fit in very well with the current way we render images to be displayed. Current E-Ink pixels are roughly 100 microns in size (for a 250 dpi display). 1 micron pixels would increase the size of the display buffer by 10000 times. So, from about 1 MB to 10 GB needed to be computed and transferred on each screen refresh. That would make updating the screen intolerably slow using today's technology (especially in low-powered ereaders). We'd need something different for such displays, perhaps some kind of vector rather than pixel renderer.

07-11-2014, 04:37 AM	#5
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	Maybe different contact lens applications?

07-11-2014, 04:45 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, the applications lie more in very small screens that are close to the eye, than in large screens read at a distance. It has tremendous potential for "wearable" screens.

07-16-2014, 01:17 AM	#7
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,309 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Interesting.

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