xundefine smart Display technology is the term used to describe the devices and methods that are used to present visual information to viewers. Technology has evolved over time, from simple mechanical systems to sophisticated electronic and optical devices.
In this section, we will briefly review some of the major milestones and current trends in display technology.
The cathode-ray tube (CRT), first demonstrated in 1897 and commercialized in 1922, is one of the earliest forms of electronic displays.
It operates by using an electron gun to create images on a screen coated with phosphor. Initially, CRTs were monochrome and primarily used in oscilloscopes and black-and-white televisions.
The first commercial color CRT emerged in 1954. For over half a century, CRTs dominated the display technology market, being the preferred choice for television sets and computer monitors. However, the advent of LCDs in the 2000s began to gradually displace them.
Significant milestone in the evolution of display technology was the development of the liquid crystal display (LCD).
While the concept of liquid crystals was discovered in 1888, the practical application of these materials didn’t occur until 1936. The technology that we now recognize as LCD, specifically the active-matrix LCD, was developed in 1972.
LCDs use liquid crystals that change their orientation when an electric field is applied, allowing light to pass through or be blocked.
LCDs can be either passive-matrix or active-matrix, depending on how the pixels are addressed.
Passive-matrix LCDs use a grid of electrodes to control the pixels, while active-matrix LCDs use thin-film transistors (TFTs) to switch the pixels on and off.
Active-matrix LCDs have faster response times and higher contrast than passive-matrix LCDs, and are widely used in laptops, smartphones, tablets, TVs, monitors, and other devices.