Samsung has demonstrated an AMOLED display that is not only capable of showing moving images, but is also transparent, in what is an undeniably unique achievement.
The 19 inch screen is an advancement on the 14 inch version of the technology that it showcased during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the start of 2010, with transparency levels on the latest model now reaching 30 per cent.
Any sci-fi fan will know that movies have been portraying transparent advertising hoardings on shop fronts for years and this is precisely the kind of application that Samsung is planning to target once it has developed a screen large enough for commercial use.
Other potential applications of the technology could be in motor vehicles, with information such as speed and fuel levels displayed on the windscreen itself. Particularly imaginative people might envision the display creating sat-nav augmented reality in cars for a completely revolutionary driving experience in the next few years.
It is clear that Samsung’s experiments with OLED technology are creating more exciting possibilities by the day and although it is unlikely that people will want a see-through TV in their living rooms, the idea of having every window in a shop doubling up as a display is perhaps just a one idea as to what the technology will be able to achieve given enough time and investment.
Adding the displays to glasses, helmets and other portable devices could open up new markets and Samsung’s competitors will need to catch up if they want to take a slice of this action for themselves.
