ire a white backlight), and also it might be possible to create efficient white lighting from OLEDs.

So what does it mean to me?

OLEDs have the following advantages over today's LCD or plasma displays:

Exciting displays - new types of displays, that we do not have today, like ultra-thin, flexible or transparent displays.

Low power consumption - OLEDs are a far better choice for portable devices. It also makes OLEDs much more environmental friendly, and a candidate to be the white-light "bulb" of the future

Greater brightness - The screens are brighter, and have a fuller viewing angle.

Better durability - OLEDs are very durable and can operate in a broader temperature range

Lighter weight - the screen can be made very thin, and can even be 'printed' on flexible surfaces

How does it work?

An OLED is made by placing a series of organic thin films between two conductors. When electrical current is applied, a bright light is emitted. Here's Kodak's description of OLEDs -

"OLED displays stack up several thin layers of materials. They operate on the attraction between positively and negatively charged particles. When voltage is applied, one layer becomes negatively charged relative to another transparent layer. As energy passes from the negatively charged (cathode) layer to the other (anode) layer, it stimulates organic material between the two, which emits light visible through an outermost layer of glass."

Where can I find OLED displays today?

Today you can find small organic displays in many types of devices - Cell phones, A/V players, car audio systems, Digital cameras and PDAs. The main attraction today is the small size, the low power consumption and the great brightness. The largest OLED display on the market is Sony's 3.8", 480 x 320 display, as used in the PEG-VZ90 PDA.

Here's our list of devices with an OLED display.

Why can't I buy an OLED TV?

Building large sized OLED displays is hard, and it will take some time before companies are able to do it economically. One of the main challenges in oled displays are the life time, especially of the blue color, which is problematic for larger screens. There are constant advantages in the lifetime of OLEDs, though. Several companies have already made prototypes of larger OLED screens (up to 42 inch), and as prices will drop eventually, we can expect an organic TV at about 2008 (At least, that's what Sony's CEO claimed in CES 2007). You can follow the news about OLED TV's here.

Can OLED produce white lighting?

One of the more exciting attributes of organic displays is the low power consumption, and the ability to operate as a light source. OLEDs can produce white light, and can provide the bulb of the future - low power and thin design. As energy prices go up, and environmental issues take center stage, we can expect fast development in this field. You can follow the news about OLED lighting here.

NOTE: Please review these two URL's for further information:

http://www.pictiva.com/?gclid=CM2vytbrxYoCFRfOggodviqPhQ

http://www.impact-displays.com/