OLED Televisions: The Next Generation In TV Technology
Over the last eighteen to twenty four months, anyone looking at buying a new television would have most likely come across chat about OLED televisions. The latest advancement in TV technology, it has been spoken about with the industry for quite some time before this. However, finding out exactly how and why it is said to be such an exciting progression can be tricky.
Before discussing how effective OLED televisions are, it is best to understand the new tech. Essentially, it is not so much an evolution in existing technology; that was very much the case with LEDs coming out of LCDs, but more a whole new ball game. The light emitted is not as a result of lights behind the screen, but comes from an organic process in the layers that makes up the screen itself.
This is of course a significant advantage for OLED televisions. The quest has always been to find the perfect black color, (which essentially controls viewing clarity), with this; a true black color is delivered to the viewer.
The advantages to be gained continue with the slimness that can be achieved with the screens; the slimmest of which is currently just 3mm. With no need to create a casing for the lights anymore, screens can also be moulded to suit practically any shape and curve.
The screens are also virtually indestructible, so could easily be turned to other uses such as; billboards that curve round corners or clam shell cell phones that are entirely made up of a touch-screen. This is for the future though; presently the major benefit is in TV screens that are up three millimetres in thickness!
It is in the lack of screen size where OLED televisions are yet to make a huge impression though; with the biggest being limited to just fifteen inches on the diagonal. Whilst this is small in comparison to existing LED and LCD screens, the resolution is not diminished and the picture quality is the best you can get. Being so svelte too; they are beautiful things to behold.
There is also a negative in the price of these new OLED televisions. The biggest screen size widely available from a leading manufacturer, (eleven inches), is on the market for somewhere in the region of two thousand five hundred dollars. This price tag is attached to LCD equivalents with a screen size of about four times this.
Another downside to an OLED televisions is the short life span which, will also be a concern; particularly when countered against the price, (though the unit themselves use much less power than LCDs and LEDs and so this counter balances this to some extent). Also at the moment availability is not widespread either.
These are facts though; not in any way criticisms. New technology always has problems to resolve. New technology also commands a higher price; not just to repay development costs, but also as somewhat of a status symbol of course. As the market settles, costs will come down, and the shortcomings resolved; humans are quite good at that!
OLED televisions are a fantastic new concept, and such is the uptake by the big players in the electronics manufacturing, it is only a matter of time before the war starts between LED and OLED in earnest. I for one cannot wait; bring it on!