A model poses with LG Display’s world’s first 11.5-inch flexible e-paper at the SID show. Flexible e-paper is emerging as a top product at the exhibition in San Antonio, Texas. / Courtesy of LG Display |
LG Display Shows Off e-Paper Technology
By Kim Yoo-chul
Korea Times Correspondent
SAN ANTONIO, Texas ― The trend in leading technology exhibitions is changing from showcasing the latest technology to sales.
The trend is evident in the annual ongoing electronic-display exhibition here, a continuation of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year.
"The overall size in this year's exhibition has been scaled down by 35 percent. Everything ranging from the bad economy to worries over H1N1 influenza A is happening simultaneously," Tom Miller, executive director of Society for Information Display (SID) told The Korea Times in an interview, Thursday.
The SID 2009 International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition, dubbed "Display Week" will run through Friday with less participants than those in previous get-togethers.
The exhibition, the biggest of its kind, is a venue for leading manufacturers to present the latest displays, display components and display systems.
"The number of meetings with clients has been cut. The news from the new influenza and continued economic worries are adding to more uncertainty," said Brian. J. Patterson, a participant at the show.
Sales promoters were hawking bystanders to visit their booths and public relations officials are trying to invite visitors.
"Asian companies have been the strong supporters for the exhibition. But Sony hasn't come for many years as it has changed its core strategy. Taiwan's AU Optronics and Chi Mei Optoelectronics didn't participate," according to Miller.
Besides Samsung Electronics and LG Display, Sharp and Toshiba are just about the only major players.
Some say the main themes and line-ups ― 3D, Flexible, Touch and OLED Displays ― are well-focused.
"Credit markets are expected to stabilize in the first half of 2010, meaning the global flat-screen industry will get on track after then," the SID organizer, said.
"This is a temporary setback. To find a major breakthrough, we are planning to hold the annual conference in Asia," he said. Long travel time has also been regarded as one of the major drawbacks for Asian flat-panel companies to participate.
In 2010, the SID is to be held in the west coast city of Seattle.
Despite such an overall mood, Samsung Electronics and LG Display are drawing attention by showing off cutting-edge future technologies.
LG Display showed the world's first 11.5-inch flexible e-paper for electronic books, spotlighting its touch-screen features.
This year, e-books have become a hot commodity ― it is expected that more than 1 million will be sold this year.
In order to spur the promising 3-D technology sector, Samsung showcased its LCD technology optimized for 3-D TVs. Samsung unveiled its 240-Hz full high-definition 55-inch LCD display for the first time in the world.
"LCD technology is evolving. It's bigger and faster," Shin Sung-tae, senior vice president of Samsung's LCD division said.
yckim@koreatimes.co.kr
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