O, L, E, D - those four letters are ceaselessly being typed into search engines around the world.

Technophiles can't seem to get enough information on this emerging technology that will ultimately swoop in over the cloud of dust raised in the war of LCD vs. plasma and hover unscathed from the battle it never fought. Make no mistake about it, OLED will forever alter the way images are displayed on our TVs.

For a student of history, the cycle is easily recognizable. OLED is the LCD of six years past. The display is stunning. It inspires a whole new definition of the word contrast. Its response times are measured in microseconds and it promises a dramatic reduction in energy use.

Consider that then wrap it all inside a package as thin as a couple of credit cards. The early adopters of new technology will pay top dollar, production will improve, sizes will increase, prices will fall and commoditization will ensue.

Small-scale OLED displays can already be seen in some digital cameras, camcorders, car stereos, and portable media players. And finally, an actual OLED TV set was unveiled at CES in January - to the ohs and ogles of the crowds clamoring around the Sony booth.

Granted, the XEL-1 is only eleven inches - and the best part of $3000, but the tiny TV paints a compelling picture of things to come and gives credence to the prediction reported by CE Pro that OLED display sales are expected to reach over $3.1 billion by 2012.

I like these glimpses into the future, but that same $3000 can buy a mind boggling 50-inch plasma or LCD HD experience in the here and now.

E

May 13, 2008
HDTV Solutions

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