The evolution of display technologies and the phenomenon of carcinization
Display technologies are constantly evolving to meet the demands of consumers and the challenges of the market. One way to look at this evolution is to compare it to carcinization, the phenomenon by which unrelated animals develop a crab-like form over time. Carcinization is a form of convergent evolution, which means that different organisms independently acquire similar traits as a result of adapting to similar environments or ecological niches. Similarly, different display technologies are converging towards a common ideal of performance, efficiency, and quality, as a result of adapting to similar needs and expectations of users.
The three main types of display technologies currently available are LCD, OLED, and microLED. Each of them has different advantages and disadvantages, and they are competing for the same market segments. Let us briefly review their characteristics and compare them.
LCD stands for liquid crystal display, and it is the most widespread and cheapest technology. LCDs use a layer of liquid crystals that change their orientation when an electric current is applied, thus modulating the amount of light that passes through them. LCDs need a backlight to illuminate the pixels, which can be either LED (light-emitting diode) or CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp). LCDs have a poor management of light, as some of it leaks through the liquid crystals and reduces the contrast and the black level. LCDs also have a low energy efficiency, as they consume more power than OLEDs and microLEDs. LCDs have a good color accuracy and a high brightness, but they suffer from narrow viewing angles and slow response times.
OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and it is a newer and more advanced technology. OLEDs use a layer of organic materials that emit light when an electric current is applied, thus eliminating the need for a backlight. OLEDs are thinner, more flexible, more contrasted, and more responsive than LCDs, as they can turn on and off each pixel individually, creating perfect blacks and vibrant colors. OLEDs have a limited lifespan, as the organic materials degrade over time and lose their brightness and color uniformity. OLEDs also have a risk of burn-in, which means that static images can leave permanent traces on the screen. OLEDs have a low maximum brightness, which makes them less suitable for outdoor use or bright environments.
MicroLED stands for micro light-emitting diode, and it is considered the “holy grail” of display technologies. MicroLEDs use microscopic LEDs that form the pixels, combining the advantages of OLEDs and LCDs without their drawbacks. MicroLEDs are self-emissive, thin, flexible, contrasted, and responsive, like OLEDs, but they also have a long lifespan, no risk of burn-in, and a high maximum brightness, like LCDs. MicroLEDs are very difficult and expensive to manufacture, as they require a precise and complex process of transferring millions of tiny LEDs onto a substrate. MicroLEDs are still in the early stages of development, and they are not yet commercially available for mass production.
As microLEDs are seen as the ultimate goal of display technologies, LCDs and OLEDs are trying to get closer to them by adopting similar technologies, such as mini-LED, quantum dots, and inorganic LEDs. Mini-LEDs are smaller versions of LEDs that are used as a backlight for LCDs, improving the contrast, the black level, and the local dimming. Quantum dots are nanocrystals that are used to enhance the color gamut and the brightness of LCDs and OLEDs, by converting the light emitted by the backlight or the organic layer into pure red, green, and blue. Inorganic LEDs are non-organic materials that are used to create self-emissive pixels, like OLEDs, but with a longer lifespan and a higher brightness.
In conclusion, display technologies are undergoing a process of convergence towards a common ideal, and consumers will benefit from this billion-dollar race for the perfect display. As LCDs, OLEDs, and microLEDs compete and cooperate, they will offer more choices, more features, and more quality to the users. Display technologies are like crabs: they may have different origins, but they end up looking alike.
