http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8948484/Forget-3D-here-comes-the-QD-TV.html

Quote:

Forget 3D, here comes the QD TV Television screens that can be rolled up and carried in a pocket are to become a reality using technology developed by British scientists By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent 8:45AM GMT 11 Dec 2011 Researchers have developed a new form of light-emitting crystals, known as quantum dots, which can be used to produce ultra-thin televisions. The tiny crystals, which are 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, can be printed onto flexible plastic sheets to produce a paper-thin display that can be easily carried around, or even onto wallpaper to create giant room-size screens. The scientists hope the first quantum dot televisions – like current flat-screen TVs, but with improved colour and thinner displays – will be available in shops by the end of next year. A flexible version is expected to take at least three years to reach the market. Michael Edelman, chief executive of Nanoco, a spin out company set up by the scientists behind the technology at Manchester University, said: "We are working with some major Asian electronics companies. The first products we are expecting to come to market using quantum dots will be the next generation of flat-screen televisions. "The real advantage provided by quantum dots, however, is that they can be printed on to a plastic sheet that can rolled up. It is likely these will be small personal devices to begin with. "Something else we are looking at is reels of wallpaper or curtains made out of a material that has quantum dots printed on it. You can imagine displaying scenes of the sun rising over a beach as you wake up in the morning." Although Mr Edelman was unable to reveal which companies Nanoco are working with due to commercial agreements, it is believed that electronics giants Sony, Sharp, Samsung and LG are all working on quantum dot television technology. Most televisions now produced have a liquid-crystal display (LCD) lit by light-emitting diodes (LED), with the screen two to three inches thick. Replacing the LEDs with quantum dots could reduce the thickness. Shortages of rare earth elements needed in these displays have driven up production costs, driving electronics firms to look for new ways of making them. Quantum dots are made from cheaper semi-conducting materials that emit light when energised by electricity or ultraviolet light. By changing the size of the crystals, the researchers found they can manipulate the colour of light they produce. Placing quantum dots on top of regular LEDs can also help to produce a more natural coloured light and Nanoco working to produce new types of energy efficient light bulbs. They also hope to produce solar powered displays using quantum dots. Professor Paul O'Brien, an inorganic materials chemist at the University of Manchester who helped top develop the quantum dot technology, said: "By altering the size of the crystals we are able to change the colour they produce. "It is rather like when you twang a ruler on a desk and the noise changes, the same is happening with the light produced by the quantum dots. "As the colours are very bright and need little energy it has generated huge excitement in the electronics industry – the quality of display they can produce will be far superior to LCD televisions."

I just got a flatscreen this year. I knew I should've waited for the next thing to come along!

WTF ! I just bought a new plasma and this was right around the corner ??? Dam you new technology and your "next new thing ways " What about AMOLED ?? I thought that was the new screen technology and Iv'e seen them rolled up also. Its one of the reasons I might get a Vita.

Tbh, it does not really matter when you buy your TV, there is always something new already lined up. When I bought mine, the 3D was announced inmediately afterwards as future release for the home market. And the LED screens. But in any case those 3D and LED screens were way out of reach (finantially) and waiting for them to drop would have meant another year or two. So what's the point?

Personally, we only wanted a good HD TV. I do not really think we would use 3D enough as to justify the cost and tbh I do not believe LED is that much better and I do not really care if my TV is 5cm wider. So sum it up, the TV I bought was good for me, the price was good and the use I get from it justifies the cost. Whatever you might have bought right now, it probably is the right price you were going to pay for that technology, it has been in the market long enough to be tested, to get feedback from consumers and to sort out any issues that might have arisen. I think that nowadays it is a huge risk to buy things as soon as they come out (I mean the technology itself, not a product using that technology). I think that first people to buy are the ones to test and get frustrated, second ones get the same product cheaper and with less problems. Win win situation, I think.

I'll get one in 7 years when I can afford it. Sounds cool though.