Copytelers may want to look at this site: mcgweb.com
You may be interested in this response posted on the Semi section:
To: Robert Miluga (374 )
From: Toby
Sep 28 1997 6:51AM EST
Reply #375 of 378
It sounds like Westaim may have made a major discovery in a minor display field. EL
displays have longed lacked a stable blue phosphor which is efficient at low voltages,
and therefore full color has been problematic. This phosphor might also have
applications for FED displays too, and could gain the firm some revenue.
However, the battle for the laptop is over, and TFT-LCD has won. It is disingenuous
for the company to say that they are playing in a $13B market when in fact EL is a
niche market, as market leader PLNR readily admits. See their thread for the latest
announcement of an EL contract which readily admits that this technology is serving a
niche. Also, if you follow their business moves, they are investing in organic EL and
LCD technologies via partnerships thereby hedging their bets.
If this development had occured 5-10 years ago, many more big guys might have
chosen to invest in EL, and that investment might have driven EL to become a
competitive, low cost high information content display technology. Instead, that
investment went to LCDs which are now marching down the Moore's Law type
development curve typical of any technology which receives massive and snowballing
investment.
One lesson I think is true about technology development is that how much is invested in
a technology is often more decisive than how good the technology actually is.
Engineers, given enough resources, can make most anything work. Investment breeds
success which redoubles investment leading. I wouldn't put a nickel into EL display
technology because the upside is a niche market. I'd rather invest in something which
has the potential to win hugely.
IMHO, in the above discussion you can replace Westaim and EL with COPY and EPID, and the same logic pertains. I have seen the Westaim panel, and it works. It's high voltage, but would be just fine for a CRT. You know the Copytele story. The point about Moore's law is well taken. |
