The History of Display Technology

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1 E-Book The History of Display Technology A complete overview of the history of display technology. From the first displays in the late 1900 s to the future of displays A publication by SKY-Technology B.V.

2 Content Chapter 1 The Foundation Chapter 2 Advancing Technologies Chapter 3 Bigger and Better Displays Chapter 4 The New Millenium 2007 Future

3 C H A P T E R 1 The Foundation 2

CRT is Born 1897 It is the late 19th century - 1897 - when a Nobel prize winning physicist and inventor builds the first CRT.

Images form by letting electron beams hit a phosphorescent surface. This display technology would later be the foundation for early televisions and computer monitors.

Electroluminescence is an important discovery in the history of displays. Later on this display technology would be the foundation of LED technology.

4 CRT is Born 1897 It is the late 19th century when a Nobel prize winning physicist and inventor builds the first CRT. Karl Ferdinand Braun is the name of the man who stands at the beginning of the history of displays. His CRT invention consists of a vacuum tube that produces images. Images form by letting electron beams hit a phosphorescent surface. This display technology would later be the foundation for early televisions and computer monitors Discovery of Electroluminescence Electroluminescence is a natural phenomenon discovered by British radio researcher Henry Joseph Round. Electroluminescence is an important discovery in the history of displays. Later on this display technology would be the foundation of LED technology. Next to that, 1907 is also the year where Boris Rosing, a Russian scientist, is the first to transmit raw geometrical patterns onto a TV screen using CRT. This year turned out to be an even better year for display technology. Technologies were discovered that would later play a major part in developing other display technologies. 3D Movie Experiments 1940 In 1947 the first ever feature length motion picture in 3 dimension is released. It was the Soviet Union who released the film Bwana Devil and claimed it as the first 3D movie in the history of displays. The 1950s would produce many more 3D movies. Between 1952 and 1955 a total of 46 3D film productions are released. This includes the famous 'House of Wax'. Even though 3D display technology was revolutionary, it did require some more development. Poor visual quality was putting off viewers and this display technology would not catch on properly until many years later. 3

1950 First Color TV Around the same time as the invention of the the curved display, color television came to live.

During the early years of color television the colors change depending on the viewers equipment. TVs vary from model to model, also varying the quality of the color image.

This is the first LED, developed for Texas Instruments. This first LED however is not visible for the human eye.

5 1950 First Color TV Around the same time as the invention of the the curved display, color television came to live. It was in the early 50s of the previous century when television begins to incorporate color. For TV to be in color both luminance and chrominance are incorporated. During the early years of color television the colors change depending on the viewers equipment. TVs vary from model to model, also varying the quality of the color image Invention of LED In 1961 one of the most important display technologies in the history of displays in born. Robert Biard and Gary Pittman patent an infra LED (light emitting diode). This is the first LED, developed for Texas Instruments. This first LED however is not visible for the human eye. One year later though Nick Holonyack invents the first LED that is actually visible to the human eye. It is he that becomes known as the 'father of LEDs' Invention of LCD and Plasma Only a couple of years after the invention of LED, two other display technologies see the light. In 1964 both the first working LCD (liquid crystal display) and the first plasma display are founded. LCD display technology is what makes flat screen television possible. American inventor James Fergason researches LCD further and comes up with the first modern LCD watch in Plasma TVs however are not accepted as easily as LCD displays. Plasma's success has to wait until the arrival of digital technologies years later. The early 60s go down as a life changing time in the history of displays with the invention of LED, LCD and plasma. Three technologies that would prove to be crucial for future display technologies. 4

6 C H A P T E R 2 Advancing Technologies 5

1965 Touch Screen Technology is Invented Touch screens and display technology have always been close. This technological relationship dates back to the invention of touch screen technology.

It was first used for air traffic control, but from 1995 innovations in ATMs and ticketing kiosks based on touch technology develop.

1967 Beginnings of IMAX IMAX is founded in Canada when filmmakers in Montreal team up to produce a multi screen film installation. This would be the first truly large screen film experience.

7 1965 Touch Screen Technology is Invented Touch screens and display technology have always been close. This technological relationship dates back to the invention of touch screen technology. Back to 1965 when E.A. Johnson develops the world's first touch screen. It was first used for air traffic control, but from 1995 innovations in ATMs and ticketing kiosks based on touch technology develop. It would all be the beginning of a great bond between displays and touch screens Beginnings of IMAX IMAX is founded in Canada when filmmakers in Montreal team up to produce a multi screen film installation. This would be the first truly large screen film experience. This IMAX experience is realized by syncing together nine film projectors at the same time Birth of HDTV After the 1964 Olympic games in Tokyo, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) begins to experiment with high definition television. A decade later - in Panasonic designs a TV prototype that can display 1125 lines of pixels. A revolutionary innovation as it is 2,5 times that of standard definition at the time. This was one of the first steps in the history of displays to HD television and high quality images. 6

8 C H A P T E R 3 Bigger and Better Displays 7

1980 Large Scale TVs In the last two decades of the previous century consumer televisions became larger. At this time rear projection televisions are the standard.

It wasn't until 2005 when display technologies like Digital Light Processing (DLP), Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) and improved versions of the plasma and LCD display technology allowed for higher

1980 The Invasion of Touch Screens Another great advancement in the 1980's and 90's is the adoption of touch screen technology in consumer products.

9 1980 Large Scale TVs In the last two decades of the previous century consumer televisions became larger. At this time rear projection televisions are the standard. Making these televisions bigger means they take up a whole lot of space in the consumers living room. It wasn't until 2005 when display technologies like Digital Light Processing (DLP), Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) and improved versions of the plasma and LCD display technology allowed for higher resolutions. This part of the history of display technology is already starting to look more like the display technologies we use today The Invasion of Touch Screens Another great advancement in the 1980's and 90's is the adoption of touch screen technology in consumer products. IBM, Microsoft, Apple, HP and Atari are among the biggest tech companies to bring touch screen technology into the mainstream. In 1992 it is IBM that presents the first phone with a touch screen. A company later acquired by Apple produces a line of multi touch screen technology products in First MacIntosh Computer In 1984 the first Mac becomes available to the consumer market. It features a 9 inch monochrome 512 x 342 pixel display. At that time it was a great advancement in display technology but if you compare it to today's Mac with Retina 5K and a 5120 x 2880 pixel display you can see the developments it went through over the years. The display a Mac uses today is about 8400% better than the first display. 8

1987 The Rise of OLED OLED (organic light emitting diode) sees the first daylight in 1987. Two chemists and researchers from Eastman Kodak - Ching W.

The invention of OLED in 1987 marks an important time in the history of displays.

10 1987 The Rise of OLED OLED (organic light emitting diode) sees the first daylight in Two chemists and researchers from Eastman Kodak - Ching W. Tang and Steven Van Slyke - are the primary inventors of OLED display technology. The invention of OLED in 1987 marks an important time in the history of displays The World s Largest LED Experimentation with LED display technology continues. Leading to a larger than life LED display in the streets of Las Vegas. The Fremont Street Experience features a 1,500 feet long and 90 feet high LED display that offer visitors a new experience. 9

11 C H A P T E R 4 The New Millenium 10

2007 LCD Passes by Plasma For a long time plasma display screens were more popular than LCD displays. But it was around 2007 that the roles switched.

LED backlit LCD televisions are even becoming common. Same goes for OLED technologies. OLED now allows displays to function without back light.

Retina means that the human eye is incapable of seeing any pixels on the screen. The quality and resolution of the screen is that good.

12 2007 LCD Passes by Plasma For a long time plasma display screens were more popular than LCD displays. But it was around 2007 that the roles switched. The large size and lower cost of an LCD display compared to a plasma screen gave it great advantages. At the same time LED technologies also continue to improve every day. LED backlit LCD televisions are even becoming common. Same goes for OLED technologies. OLED now allows displays to function without back light Debut of Retina Displays The Retina display is a display term used exclusively with ipads, ipods, Macs and MacBooks made by Apple. Retina means that the human eye is incapable of seeing any pixels on the screen. The quality and resolution of the screen is that good. Today Touch Screens are Standard Back in 2007 the first iphone gets fitted with a touch screen. Although there still is some debate on which tech company made a first touch screen phone. Either way, touch screens have become the industry standard for mobile devices. Today we don't even question if a phone has a touch screen. They just do. 11

Today AMOLED AMOLED stands for active matrix organic light emitting diode. It is a display technology that increases the screen resolution and quality of OLED screens.

These labels generally vary based on the marketing terms tech companies use for this display technology. Today Mainstream 3D Display Technology 3D is more normal now than it ever was before.

13 Today AMOLED AMOLED stands for active matrix organic light emitting diode. It is a display technology that increases the screen resolution and quality of OLED screens. Today there are Super AMOLED, HD Super AMOLED, Super AMOLED Advanced and more versions of AMOLED. These labels generally vary based on the marketing terms tech companies use for this display technology. Today Mainstream 3D Display Technology 3D is more normal now than it ever was before. It is a very popular feature in movie theaters and we can even watch 3D movies at home. Its popularity is all thanks to improved technologies such as battery powered home 3D glasses and 3D technology that doesn't require glasses. Future Let s Look at the Future What does the future of display technology have in store for us? Read about 6 Fascinating Future Display Technologies. 12

14 SKY-Technology B.V. De Trompet DC Heemskerk The Netherlands Phone 0031 (0) Website 13

VARIOUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIESS

VARIOUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIESS Mr. Virat C. Gandhi 1 1 Computer Department, C. U. Shah Technical Institute of Diploma Studies Abstract A lot has been invented from the past till now in regards with the