We live in a flat word - not the Earth itself, of course, but more so the technology we use. Televisions, monitors and most other common display formats are all traditionally flat. So far, attempts to break away from flat displays have faced serious practical challenges (such as distortion of the images on screen). That might be about to change, though, as three leading technology companies have made the first major efforts to move consumers away from the familiar 'flatscreens'.
Sony, HP and Nokia are among the companies that have teased curved tech, including 'electronic paper' displays. LG and Samsung have already released curved TV sets, but now things are about to go mobile for consumers.
Samsung will be first out of the gate sometime this month. Although they've yet to announce full details, the company will be releasing a curved screen smartphone in their native South Korea very shortly indeed - perhaps days rather than weeks. It's expected to be called the Galaxy Round, and rumours indicate it will be a revision of their existing albeit flat Note 3.
UPDATE: Samsung has revealed their curved phone. It indeed goes by the name Galaxy Round and is a redesigned Note 3 'phablet' (larger than a typical smartphone). Full details will have to wait until its release, but the video below illustrates its unique 'roll effect' that allows the user to display the lock screen by simply rolling the phone towards them:
LG, meanwhile, will be a few months behind their competitors, but have made a firm commitment to the mass production of curved, flexible technology. Their offering will be a slim, plastic-based OLED screen that is "bendable and unbreakable".
The company's Dr. Sang Deog Yeo says "the flexible display market is expected to grow quickly as this technology is expected to expand further into diverse applications including automotive displays, tablets and wearable devices. Our goal is to take an early lead in the flexible display market by introducing new products with enhanced performance and differentiated designs next year". LG are expecting it to become a €7.5 billion market by the end of the decade.
What's the advantage of such designs? Apart from potentially proving more flexible and durable - 'unbreakable' will surely be music in the ears of anyone who has ever smashed their phone screen - the new screens will also be theoretically cheaper to manufacture if their based on plastics. Smart watches and similar devices will also benefit from the flexibility afforded by the screens.
However, it's unlikely the first generation of curved, bendable screen smartphones will arrive fully formed, instead merely the first tentative step in a long road towards full flexibility. We'll have to wait for full announcements to discover exactly what the two technology giants have planned.
Disney's team, on the other hand, are being more open about their intentions. Their research division has released this new video illustrating their new curved monitors:
The prototype devices use optic wires, 3D printing and the natural Fibonacci spirals to create a display with "alternative pixel topologies" that avoid the image warping commonly found in most curved displays.
Instead of smartphones, the initial use for these developments will be to create more believable figures and characters - given the company, it will be most immediately intended for theme parks and toys. However, it also allows for improved interactivity and touch inputs that could potentially serve further uses in the consumer technology arena.
It will take all these companies and others a while to truly understand and take advantage of the opportunities afforded by curved displays. Consumers will also probably take some time to adjust. Nonetheless, be ready for technology to become a whole lot curvier.
For more on science & technology, tune in to Futureproof at 9am on Saturdays on Newstalk 106-108fm
Image: Wikimedia Commons
