Can FED displays beat OLED?

First proposed by Sony, but then forgotten for a while, it seems that Field-emission display (FED) technology is back.  AU Optronics, the world's third-biggest manufacturer of panels for computer screens has thrown its weight behind it the technology.

FED screens are a hybrid of traditional CRD displays and the OLED technology that's beginning to make a name for itself.  Each pixel is a mini tube, with its own electron cannon.  In theory, viewers will benefit from the advantages of both CRT and OLED displays: instead of a single cathode ray tube, there are two million, meaning the screen itself is much flatter.  And because each pixel is an individual light source, like with OLED, the screen should offer almost perfect contrast, because you can create an entirely black pixel just by switching it off.

AUO's press release also promises excellent quality, with the aim of rivalling forthcoming OLED screens and appeal to the most demanding users, including those in medical or broadcasting professions.

The Taiwanese firm has stressed the advantages of the technology:

• great contrast
• low power consumption
• no motion blur
• much greater colour depth, with native 12 bit colours (current LCDs are only in 6 or 8 bit, even though some claim 12 or 14)

We can't wait to find out more!

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