I attended the Society for Information Display (SID) conference in San Jose, CA., last week. This is an industry-only conference for those interested in new display technologies, and it is their geekfest. I enjoy this event as it showcases the latest and greatest technological innovations impacting displays.
The Display Week 2024 conference covered a wide range of topics related to display technology, including digital signage, AR/VR/MR, sensor integration, and ultra-high-bandwidth display data transmission and processing.
Some of the big announcements at the 2024 Display Week conference included –
Digital and e-Signage Displays: Interior and Exterior Applications
Digital signage is a huge market for displays. According to Markets and Markets Research:
“The Global Digital Signage Market Size is expected to reach USD 26.1 billion by 2028 from USD 18.7 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2023 to 2028. Growing adoption of digital signage in commercial applications, increasing demand for digital signage in infrastructural applications, surging demand for 4K and 8K displays and constantly growing technological advancements related to displays are the major factors driving the growth of the digital signage industry.”
One of the more interesting demos I saw in this category came from EInk.
They have made significant progress in developing color Epaper displays, and digital signage has become their major market opportunity.
Here is an example of one of their signage displays that shows very sharp and crisp color displays used for navigation and public information.
The second area of significant announcements highlighted AR/VR and mixed reality displays.
Although no new headsets were released at the show, many companies, especially BOE, Samsung, and others, were showing off next-generation displays for both XR headsets and smart glasses. Most of these new displays were shown behind the scenes under NDA, but the display industry is making serious progress in developing new displays for both headsets and smart glasses. I did see a developing technology that I cannot write about yet, but it was able to deliver video to smart glasses without waveguides.
However, after reviewing many of the new displays for AR glasses, I think we are at least 2-3 years away from getting the kind of AR glasses that would be acceptable to a broad market. In the interim, some of these displays I saw show promise for vertical applications, but I still think we are years away from the kind of breakthrough displays needed for true AR glasses.
Another trend from the show was sensor integration and multifunctional displays. Many display companies like BOE, Samsung, and others showed various displays that integrated sensors and could be used for multi-function displays (MFDs) or multifunctional products.
MFDs deliver space efficiency. They are a space-saving solution as they can display multiple functions in one place, reducing clutter and making navigation easier. They also provide convenience: MFDs allow users to access multiple functions simultaneously, making it easier to multitask and access important information quickly. They also offer customization.
MFDs can be customized to meet the user’s specific needs, allowing them to prioritize the functions and information that are most important to them. Besides being cost-effective, they are also reliable and durable, making them a good choice for applications where equipment failure is not an option.
The vendors also stressed that MFDs can integrate with other devices and systems, making it easier to access and control multiple functions from one place.
Important sessions were also held on active matrix displays, including OLED and LCD technologies, and emerging technologies, which focused on display technologies, including microLED, quantum dot, and flexible displays.
A few other demos caught my attention-
BOE showed off a 110-inch 16K 3D display.
Surprisingly, 3D displays were an item this year. If you have been in the industry for at least 15 years, you may remember the big push for 3D TVs in the mid-2000s. That movement fizzled, but with the renewed interest in 3D images via VR and XR, it is not surprising to see companies take another shot at 3D displays.
Another 3D screen from Mopic allowed for 3D hand interaction with the images on a screen. I tried this, and it was amazing and somewhat creepy.
There was one other demo I saw that was fascinating. BOE, which I consider one of the most innovative display companies, was showing off a prototype of a new automotive dashboard.
As you can see from this photo, it has a center display that serves as the driver’s main navigation and control screen. However, a screen on the right, in the front seat passenger area, folds out to give them personal information and entertainment experience. This booth was always packed as it showed the potential of a whole dashboard-like display. By the way, the passenger screen folds into the dashboard when not used.
Display Week 2024 was a significant event for the display industry. It brought together experts and innovators to share knowledge and showcase cutting-edge technologies. Although this is an industry show and highly technical, it is one of the best shows to see the how display advancements will drive our tech future.
