A VISION OF THE FUTURE ?

Can you imagine a world where technology becomes truly integrated into our daily lives?  No more switching on your computer or Ipad or bending over your phone whilst walking down the road trying to read emails or mindlessly watching everyone send text messages whilst supposedly having a drink with your mates or business colleagues.

Corning can -  as they have been at the forefront of glass manufacturing for over 160 years. But what has glass got to do with it I hear you say?  Well they manufacture glass substrates for active matrix liquid crystal displays (LCDs), also known as thin-film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs) which they already supply to countless consumer goods manufacturers around the world. Their premium-quality substrates are used in LCD televisions, notebook computers, flat-panel desktop monitors, and portable electronic and communications devices.

But forget all that and imagine you could integrate this technology into everyday objects like your kitchen work surface, bathroom mirror or fridge. Their vision of the future is truly inspirational and doesn’t seem that far away. 

So how possible is it ?  Well Corning explains.

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

Ok so it’s not that often I get excited about plastic. I have boxes of boxes of my kids toys in storage waiting for the right moment  to sneak them off to the dump without them noticing that missing dolls arm. However  today sees Plastic Logic unveiling it’ s latest concept design at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2013) in Las Vegas (NV), USA.

A prototype of the PaperTab has been produced by researchers from Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory. Plastic Logic has assembled a world class team of plastic electronics experts, and has generated an extensive IP portfolio and finally gets to show off today what it has no doubt spent a lot of time and money developing.

The future of Ipads and other tablet computers is finally here as well as a whole host of other innovative products to come I’m sure. Think Harry Potter newspapers. Different PaperTabs could transfer documents or images simply by touching each other.

The ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight, flexible plastic displays have the same quality and user experience as paper, except they are also rugged and durable! This offers the prospect of true paper replacement. These  flexible displays open up the possibility of developing a wide range of novel applications, which are not possible with common glass-based displays.