Forward View
The next generation of smartwatches is driving forward demand for fl exible displays
Louise Smyth talks flexible displays, smartwatches and wearable electronics with an expert in intelligent semiconductor technology
Get smart ‘S
mart chemistry for next-generation fl exible displays.’ That’s the tagline that SmartKem, a
UK-based company specialising in semiconductor technology operates under. Its Tru-Flex product – a semiconductor platform for high- performance fl exible electronics – is generating a great deal of interest from those pioneering solutions such as fl exible smartphones and smartwatches. The company describes the Tru-Flex platform as, “organic semiconductors that enable the manufacture of thin-fi lm transistors (TFTs) that combine industry- grade electrical performance with complete physical fl exibility for the realisation of ‘foldable’ displays and electronics such as tablets, smartphones and wearable devices, for the fi rst time.”
Flexible displays are currently a huge trend, particularly in the consumer sector as we observe the novelty and indeed popularity of early iterations of the
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‘smartwatch’. What SmartKem’s technology enables are end products that are lightweight, unbreakable, fl exible and wearable. The benefi ts that industries such as engineering and manufacturing (and pretty much any sector you can think of that requires display technology) could reap from solutions with those features are immense and obvious.
An upward trend Keen to take advantage of this trend, SmartKem has been very active in areas targeted at reaping the rewards of fl exible electronics, with the company sharing news on a number of different fronts. One announcement that’s a source of great pride came back in March 2015, when Tru-Flex was awarded the Innovative Product of the Year at the ESTnet Awards. This follows an earlier acknowledgement, when SmartKem won the Printed Electronics Asia Award 2013 for Best Advanced Material Development. And there’s possibly another award in the pipeline…
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