Tokyo - NEC announced a new LCD technology that promises users to deliver high visibility and vivid colors even when exposed to direct sunlight. The company said it will begin shipping the technology in a 5.5" amorphous silicon TFT active matrix device in June.

NEC calls its solution to one of the major downsides of today's LC displays Super-Transmissive Natural Light TFT (ST-NLT). The technology combines low levels of reflection with a brightness of 750cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 500:1 to improve readability of text and graphics as well as color quality in natural outdoor light.

ST-NLT is limited for no to a 5.5", 320 x 240 pixel display that is likely to appear in handheld computing devices that are primarily used in outdoor applications. NEC believes especially surveying and construction applications and instrumentation for aircrafts, boats and ships to pick up the technology. According to the company, the display shows 262,144 colors and functions in a temperature range between -10 degrees Celsius to +70 degrees Celsius (14 degrees to 158 degrees Fahrenheit).

Computer users can expect ST-NLT to become available in other devices, such as notebook and desktop LCDs. In a statement NEC said that it "aims to improve the range of environments where LCDs can be used through continued performance enhancement of its broad range of LCDs." However, the firm provided no information when ST-NLT could be commercially available in consumer products.