Update: Technology Review has reported a ‘significant step’ towards the demonstration of QLED technology for practical purposes. They report that researchers at Samsung have produced a 4-inch ‘full colour’ monitor. This may not seem like much but it is the first screen to combine red, blue and green subpixels to create something that may one day be applicable to much larger devices (such as computer monitors). The article ends with a few words to inject some further reality to the situation – the technology lags behind OLED in terms of efficiency and obstacles related to lifetime still need to overcome. Research into QLED technology will continue in parallel to OLED technology and with any luck they will both become viable alternatives to LCD monitors in the future.

There has been a lot of talk and a real buzz recently surrounding OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology. Another ‘backlightless’ technology is currently being researched and developed by the company QD Vision – QLED (quantum dot light emitting diode). With the very recent announcement of a cooperative partnership between QD Vision and LG Display it seems that there is real commercial interest in bringing this technology to consumer display products such as computer monitors and TV screens. You can get a broad perspective of the principles behind the ‘Quantum dot’ on Wikipedia. It is a far-reaching nanotechnology that has many useful applications aside from those involving displays. QD Vision’s iteration of the technology is still tightly under wraps and the lack of public demonstrations suggest it isn’t as far advanced as OLED technology. If what QD Vision says is accurate we are looking at a technology with similar appeal to OLED and that is very significant indeed. They also envisage superior energy efficiency (100% better claimed), higher luminance (30-40% greater claimed) and better stability (read: longer lifetime) than OLED technologies whilst maintaining the excellent contrast and colours that have everyone so giddy with excitement. We do sense a slight hint of bias and QD Vision are probably comparing their figures to an older iteration of OLED technology (something that is being continuously improved as it is readied for prime time) – but either way QLED could be an equally important advancement in computer monitors of the future.