Demonstrations of “flexible” displays are a staple technique seems to from the screens were small enough for us to carry.
This week, Samsung has given the strongest sign yet that the hi-tech devices could become a reality.
The company introduced the “flexible” AMOLED display 4.5 inches across and only 0.3mm thick, in January this year.
Reports this week hint that the phone technology – which can be “rolled up” and survive the hammer blows – is shown in the second quarter of next year.
The technology relies on Atom-thick “graphene” – sheets of carbon atoms – with aluminum foil, protective layer of liquid crystal “display”.
Earlier this year, reports leaked that Samsung had the ability to produce large amounts of evidence “early 2012” – but no one knew what they could be.
Later, photos of the concept phone uses technology – Galaxy Skin – appeared. The skin was a project carried out by design students, using the Samsung logo and a trademark of Galaxy.
But the technology has huge potential.
Graphene phone screens are practically unbreakable, and provide an instant advantage over any other smartphone on the market.
Now, according to reports from the International Business Times, concept phones, similar to the skin could be on sale early next year.
The report was remarkably specific, stating that the handset would provide information, including high-resolution 800 × 480 flexible AMOLED display, eight-megapixel camera and 1GB of RAM and 1.2GHz processor.
Specifications for sound suspiciously similar spec Samsung’s current flagship, the S Galaxy II, however.
Will Findlater, editor of Stuff Magazine told the Mail Online today: “AMOLED display is already in the mobile technology to win, so is it as good as promised, a flexible AMOLED could stop drunk smartphone screens – and the tablets, which are even more fragile.”
Potential of the tablets can be folded away smartphone is a particularly exciting – you would have two gadgets for the price of one, “said Findlater.
It is perhaps wise to be a little skeptical, however.
Samsung has not made an official product announcement, and while they certainly can produce such technology – it was freely discussed earlier this year – the “gap” between that and a working phone ready for mass production is immense.
“Flexible” displays have been shown in various forms since 2004 – Tech insiders suggest that the laptops, or e-book readers may someday be a “pen” mortgage processor “sheet” of paper-like screen wrapped around it.
