WRT (With Respect To) Technology

Two new features will soon be coming to mobile phones and portable media players.  These features are active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) displays and projection displays (picoprojectors).  In fact, the soon to be released Samsung Show phone (see photos below) features both touch screen AMOLED and projection displays in a package only slightly thicker than the Apple iPhone.

Popular Science has posted a comprehensive video illustrating the features and operation of the Samsung Show.

Sony has also announced their Walkman NWZ-X1000 portable media player with a touch screen AMOLED display.

As AMOLED manufacturing technology matures, AMOLEDs will find increasing application in mobile device applications.  The increasing penetration of AMOLED displays in the mobile device segment will occur because of their excellent display attributes and reduced power consumption.  Moreover, in the lucrative and hotly contested mobile device market, the superior display attributes of AMOLED displays compared to LCDs make AMOLED displays a market differentiating feature.  Although television applications of AMOLED displays garner a great deal of attention, small and medium size applications of AMOLEDs will dominate for the next several years as manufacturers work diligently to increase manufacturing yields and reduce costs of AMOLEDs.In contrast, the application of picoprojectors in mobile devices opens up entirely new applications for sharing pictures, videos and presentations.  As the photo below of the Samsung Show illustrates, mobile devices with solid communication features will become a pervasive means to carry and share our content.

Just as we look forward to the 2009 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Natural Resources Defense Council reports that lower power televisions are on the way to market.  In an update to an earlier report on television power consumption, NRDC outlines the roadmap to lower power televisions based on near term improvements in television design and operating modes.  Lower power consumption is forecast for both LCD and plasma display televisions.  NRDC also forecast that dramatic additional savings are obtainable as LCD televisions transition to light emitting diode (LED) backlights, and plasma televisions achieve “luminance efficiency” of 10 lumens/watt.  Interestingly, NRDC emphasizes that reducing television power consumption can also lead to a reduction in manufacturing costs.

NRDC’s 2005 report stated that US televisions consumed 46 billion kilowatt hours, or 4 % of residential electricity use, in 2004.  As shown below, NRDC forecast that electricity consumption of US televisions would climb at least 52% to more than 70 billion kilowatt hours by 2009.  With recent growth in sales of large screen and high definition television sets, it would be interesting if NRDC would update their projected increase in television power consumption, and identify the overall energy savings to be obtained from the near term improvements in television power consumption that they forecast.

Figure 1: Forecast Trend for US Television Power Consumption
Source: Natural Resources Defense Council

An interesting dynamic arises when considering the development and market impact of new display technologies that promise lower power consumption televisions.  For example, Samsung, LG and Sony have launched or demonstrated televisions using Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) displays that offer outstanding display performance.  However, high manufacturing costs have thus far limited the market introduction of AMOLED televisions.  As manufacturers of LCD and plasma televisions continue to improve the performance and power consumption of their products, the promoters of newer technologies including AMOLEDs will face continued challenges.