LG Introduces Flexible Display that Adapts Like a Piece of Stretchable Taffy
Picture a screen as adaptable as cling wrap, so versatile you could mold it over your face in a futuristic reenactment of an adept Saran-wrapping serial killer's disguise, a la Dexter. LG envisions a future filled with such adaptable displays, and its latest interpretation of this concept is capable of extending up to 50% of its standard size, primarily due to the same material used in contact lenses.
This latest version of the concept display mirrors the one LG introduced in 2022. It had the ability to stretch from 12 to 14 inches, but the new model can extend from 12 to 18 inches. Not only that, but it's also flexible, bendable, and retains full color thanks to its microLED. Similar to OLED, this display type emits its own glow without the need for a backlight, and due to its miniature nature, it allows researchers to conceive unique use cases, such as LG's prototype.
© Image: LG
The Taffy-like screen utilizes a “unique silicon material substrate,” as per LG. It shares the same type of material used in soft contact lenses and can be manipulated without the risk of breaking. LG claims it can be folded and stretched over 10,000 times and still preserve a clear image. This doesn’t necessarily guarantee it will endure rough usage. We eagerly await seeing if LG ever presents it in the real world. As for its durability, other major tech companies like Apple have also floated ideas for “self-healing” displays for future foldable phones or tablets.
LG states this new display boasts a 100 ppi (pixels per inch), though this pixel density doesn't necessarily align with user expectations for modern smartphones. For instance, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro boast a 460 ppi screen, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro's display clocks in at 495 ppi. As things stand, we don’t expect the material to be suitable for mobile devices. Additionally, Motorola has already demonstrated a wrist-mounted, bendy phone prototype, and we're still trying to decide who would want something like that.
So, what’s the purpose of a highly adaptable display? LG suggests it’s practical for irregular and curved surfaces. LG proposes that it could be affixed to clothing, like a firefighter's uniform for “real-time information.” However, I can’t help but imagine people becoming human billboards to clutter streets with even more ads.
LG is also the company developing transparent OLEDs, but flexible screens may have more applications beyond mere novelty. We also don’t know what kind of costs this would mean for consumers, but microLED is still so new that any futuristic, foldable display could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. LG's own acclaimed rollable OLED came in at $87,000 at launch. Samsung's micro-LEDs of the flat panel variety currently only come in 89, 101, and 114 inches, with the largest one going for $150,000.
It's highly unlikely these stretchable screens will be available in consumer products for some time. But LG invites us to picture the screen stretched over a tiny mound to mimic a pseudo-dial on your car's center console. Personally, I prefer physical controls for my car, and I'm not alone. Last year, Volkswagen found out the hard way and has reintroduced physical controls into its next-gen cars. This came after years of promoting all-touchscreen interiors, to many users' dismay.
This innovative technology could potentially revolutionize the way we interact with devices, offering limitless possibilities for the tech industry in the future. With advancements in materials like the one used in contact lenses, we might see flexible displays becoming more common in various devices.
The adaptability of such technology could be particularly beneficial in various industries, such as emergency services where real-time information could be displayed on firefighter uniforms for enhanced safety and efficiency.
