Display redefines technology future
By Kim Yoo-chul
Software has always been the pacesetter in the technology industry and still is in many ways. However, the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show (ICES) suggests that there is a new trend ― innovation in display components.
Two Korean consumer electronics giants, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, as well as Japan’s Sony showed off their innovative capabilities by exhibiting various prototypes in Las Vegas last week. The ICES is the largest technology fair in the world.
Wearable devices and curved TVs were some of the main attractions at the fair, according to officials of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the fair organizer.
“I thought the panoramic curved ultra high-definition (UHD) TV looked amazing. Most of the high-end TVs are meaningless for today but look beautiful and just showcases the firm’s capabilities and hopes for the future,” said Mark C. Newman, a senior analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, who attended the exhibition.
The outlook for Korean manufacturers is getting better not just because of the futuristic devices but more because of product innovation accelerated by parts development, specifically displays.
“Without innovative displays, it’s no exaggeration to say that all wearable devices will be meaningless. I’ve acknowledged that Korean technology companies are pushing for innovation in products,” said an official at the CEA who declined to be named.
“But it’s much easier and effective for Koreans to seek another form of innovation through innovation of components. If you provide bendable and flexible displays, then major TV set-makers will adopt products and release ‘wow’ ones,” he added.
He continued: “Let’s take Google’s and Sony’s smartglasses, for example. It is impossible to make them without bendable displays. Innovation in products will be backed by innovation in parts.”
Han Sang-beom, CEO of LG Display, Korea’s leading display supplier, said the company is moving toward developing bendable and UHD panels for upcoming wearable devices and next-generation TVs.
“I can say LG Display is ready to manufacture plastic-based OLED displays to be used in various applications such as cars and wearable devices. We are preparing to launch a massive promotional campaign to promote such advanced displays to our clients,” Han said in a meeting with the Korean media at the Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip during the show.
LG Display is trying to find new business opportunities in line with the industry’s dynamic trends.
“I’ve met a lot of friends during the fair,” Han told The Korea Times at the boarding gate of a Korean Air flight at the Tom Bradley International Airport, Los Angeles, on Jan. 11 (KST) on his way back to Korea.
TVs have been a core attraction at the annual fair for decades, becoming even more popular a decade ago with the emergence of flat-screen technology. But in recent years, according to officials and analysts, major TV manufacturers have been struggling to sustain the excitement of the living room staple.
In addition, companies still need to address other challenges such as the lack of content before aggressively promoting curved UHD TVs. But the world’s top two TV manufacturers ― Samsung and LG ― will soon be releasing such next-generation TVs thanks to improvements in bendable displays.
Both Samsung and LG announced new curved 105-inch UHD TVs at the CES. Samsung Electronics has an 85-inch prototype that is bendable, meaning the device can be transformed from a flat-screen one to a curved unit. It has four other curved TV models.
“A new paradigm is taking place in the industry amid the rise of connectivity between devices. The automotive industry is converging with information technology. For example, the car infotainment system is a new segment that display producers can’t lose,” said the CEA official.