By Kim Yoo-chul
Korea Times Correspondent
SAN ANTONIO, Texas ― Rapid advancements in display technology have given chances for consumers to get high quality gadgets at lower prices. These advancements are on full display at the exhibition here.
The "47th SID International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition," dubbed "Display Week 2009," will run through Friday at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
"Display Week 2009" is an international gathering of scientists, engineers, manufacturers and users in the field of electronic information displays.
The event organizers said the main participants such as Samsung Electronics, LG Display as well as Japanese companies will be showcasing their endeavors to accelerate innovation around more energy-efficient display technologies and greener manufacturing techniques.
In order to appeal to clients and prove the current display leadership in the global market, Samsung Electronics and LG Display are set to boast of their accomplishments.
LG Display exhibits the world's brightest 23-inch three-dimensional (3D) LCD screen as its innovative product.
"It's at least twice as bright as any products of our rivals. The display just requires viewers to wear simple 'polarizing glasses' instead of those with more expensive 3D specifications," LG Display chief technology officer Chung In-jae said, Tuesday.
The LG product is expected to attract attention from participants as the marketability of 3D LCD TV is getting brighter amid talks with Hollywood and Japanese companies intensifying to develop 3D technology for Blu-ray players.
"Fewer choices are still regarded the biggest drawback for further global 3D TV market. But the cost-saving and energy-efficient 3D LCD panel will be the winner soon," according to the LG vice president.
Researchers say consumers today are ready to pay some 50 percent more for the 3D experience when they go to theaters. LG Display hopes that its approaches will be paid off after more content becomes available.
LG's other exhibition includes the world's slimmest _ the thickness of 5.9 millimeters _ edge-based 42- and 47-inch panels for LCD TVs. It shows off eco-friendly TV panels by using "white plus," a way to lower energy consumption and some AM OLED panels.
The company also announced it has successfully developed the next-generation of LCD roll-printing technology dubbed as "In-Plane Printing," which LG says is the solution to drastically lower prices in LCD manufacturing, executives say.
The environmentally friendly roll-printing technology is capable of reducing the amount of chemicals required by the photolithography process and can be easily applied to the fabrication of next-generation flexible displays.
The world's biggest producer of LCD panels Samsung Electronics has exhibited a series of the latest display products. Responses were not so exciting except for flexible AM OLED prototype.
The developments in display technology have seen several prototypes being shown off recently. Samsung Mobile Display (SMD) stole the limelight by showing off a new 6.5-inch flexible AM OLED prototype.
SMD said the type is the "most flexible one" they've done so far and decreases production costs drastically.
"The technology is still on an infant stage, however, is swearing faster response times and lower power consumption. The technology is to be applied into e-passports, watches, mobile phones and even military maps," an SMD spokesman said.
"Eco-friendliness," "Slim," and "Innovative Design" are the top words for this year's Samsung Electronics at the exhibition.
Samsung showed a 55-inch LCD TV panel being applied with "active dimming" technology that results in a saving of 40 percent in energy consumption.
The world's slimmest ― 1.64 millimeters ― LCD panel for 12.1-inch laptop and 10.2-inch color electronic papers are exhibited.
Exhibition organizers said this year's "exhibition fever" is not strong, though, as the world's leading display makers were hit by the global downturn.
"Amid the industry's bearish moves, exhibiting striking products doesn't make sense at all for the time being. Samsung and LG are the only two to show products," a participant said.