Do you think we will have foldable displays in the next 5 years?

[HarryHutton]

There are examples of flexible E-Ink, and examples of flexible OLED - but it seems that they wouldn't stand up to rugged folding use - if people were to flex them and fold them tight over and over they would fatigue and break like a ring pull from a can.

Are there ways around this? Do you think we'll be seeing foldable displays?

[pdurrant]

I don't see foldable displays as a possibility.

But rollable displays are technically possible, although I'm not sure there's a market for them.

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I don't see foldable displays as a possibility.

But rollable displays are technically possible, although I'm not sure there's a market for them.

Small device - large screen. As large (wide) as you want or need it.
I'd buy that instantly.
(Of course, I'd buy it simply for the geek factor...)

[crossi]

Who would want a floppy book. Trying to read a newspaper on the bus with the pages flopping around is a pain. To read easily the page needs to be held rigid.

Now if you had a display as large as a standard map that you could roll up might be useful, except it would be far too costly and fragile to take hiking. A paper map is light, inexpensive and doesn't break or run out of battery life. Even paper maps can't really be read conveniently without something flat and rigid to lay them on.

I just can't see a use for a floppy ereader.

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by crossi

Who would want a floppy book.

Floppy books are called "trade paperbacks" and I like them!

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by crossi

Now if you had a display as large as a standard map that you could roll up might be useful, except it would be far too costly and fragile to take hiking.

A paper map can't react to your queries. An intelligent map could highlight the path you want, or zoom in or out.

Who would want a floppy book.

Why would it have to be floppy? There are easy ways to create a stabilizing back that doesn't take too much place.
I don't know the name of it - but that retractable grid? Looks like lots of Xes?
It should be able to expand to at least twice its size and remain relatively rigid.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Cyberman tM

A paper map can't react to your queries. An intelligent map could highlight the path you want, or zoom in or out.


Why would it have to be floppy? There are easy ways to create a stabilizing back that doesn't take too much place.
I don't know the name of it - but that retractable grid? Looks like lots of Xes?
It should be able to expand to at least twice its size and remain relatively rigid.

Scissors extension?
http://www.google.com.pr/images?hl=e...Q&ved=0CDsQsAQ

[HarryHutton]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I don't see foldable displays as a possibility.

But rollable displays are technically possible, although I'm not sure there's a market for them.

Well theres the market for pocketsized tech i guess. Would feel weird to carry a scroll-like device around in the pocket though!

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Scissors extension?
http://www.google.com.pr/images?hl=e...Q&ved=0CDsQsAQ

Yes, that's it.
Or a segmented plate that can only fold in one direction.

It wouldn't have to look like a scroll, just incorporate one. I'm constantly thinking of the communicator from Earth: Final Conflict.
Here's apparently what the prop looks like:
http://www.movieprop.com/efcglobal2aa.jpg

Imagine the scroll on the bigger half of the device, so it can be spooled across the scissor extensions when drawn apart.

[crich70]

It would be ironic if it did become the standard wouldn't it. i.e. We spend all those centuries moving away from the scroll and end up using a high tech version of it again.