How Is This Screen NOT BROKEN?!
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Promos
The first 200 people who head to brilliant.org will get 20% off their annual premium subscription of Brilliant. How do foldable screens work? Techquickie Merch Store: designbyhumans.com Techquickie Movie Poster: shop.crowdmade.com Follow: twitter.com Leave a reply with your requests for future episodes, or tweet them here: twitter.com Join the community: linustechtips.com Intro Theme: Showdown by F.O.O.L from Monstercat - Best of 2016 Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com License for image used: creativecommons.org
The video begins by framing foldable screens as the latest gadget wave that promises a truly impressive leap in display technology. It traces a short history from early experiments with electronic paper dating back to the 1970s, noting how those ideas relied on particles suspended in fluid and simple voltage to render text. The host then explains why OLED is central to foldable displays, emphasizing that OLEDs generate their own light and therefore do not require a bulky backlight, which enables thinner, lighter devices. The narrative moves to the practical engineering challenge: how to fold a display without breaking it, given that traditional paper will weaken after repeated creases. The explanation highlights the shift from glass to a bendable plastic layer to support the OLED stack, and introduces a special glass-plastic hybrid layer used by Samsung to improve durability, aiming for strength around Gorilla Glass while keeping thickness minimal. The segment also touches on the remaining hurdles, such as integrating flexible touch sensors and electronics, which may require novel materials beyond conventional rigid layers. The host notes potential benefits like reduced breakage from drops and better on-the-fly reconfiguration of apps and layouts as the device folds, while acknowledging that true software support for foldable formats will take time to mature. The video concludes with a realistic outlook on costs and deployment timelines, suggesting that while foldable devices are compelling, they will initially come with a higher price tag and manufacturing challenges, driving home the idea that foldable tech is promising but not yet mainstream.
Topics · technology · science · consumer_electronics · gadgets
Questions answered
- What makes OLED suitable for foldable screens?
- OLEDs generate their own light, eliminating the need for a backlight, which allows for thinner, more flexible displays suitable for folding.
- What is the main durability challenge for foldable displays?
- The key challenge is preventing damage from repeated folding, which requires a bendable support layer and reliable flexible touch/electronics integration.