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Technology Stocks : Flat Panel Displays - alternatives to AMLCDs
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To: Robert Miluga who wrote (374)9/28/1997 6:52:00 AM
From: Toby   of 473
 
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.
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