VIDEO: Toshiba's Bend-to-Zoom LCD

By Jane McEntegart
published

Toshiba introduces an interesting twist to flexible displays.

We've seen a few different flexible LCDs and each time we've talked about the possibilties when it comes to applying this technology to modern life. From electronic posters and maps to displays that you can roll up and stuff in a paper tube, most of our ideas focused storage or transportation. However, Toshiba this week showed off a flexible display with a function we'd never thought of.

At SID, the world's largest display conference, TechOn reports that Toshiba was showcasing a display that uses its flexibility as controls. Though it doesn’t look quite as flexible as say, HP's rollable display, the fact that you can bend to zoom in is pretty damn cool.

Check out the super thin, 8.4-inch (800 x 600) display in action below.

HP's rollable technology shown earlier this year:

Jane McEntegart
18 Comments Comment from the forums
  • outacontrolpimp
    Pretty cool, but I don't really see how its helpful. Maybe there will be more uses in the future.
    Reply
  • _Cubase_
    "Zoom closer"
    *bend*
    "Closer"
    *bend*
    "Closer!!"
    *bend... SNAP!*
    ...."Too close".
    Reply
  • twisted politiks
    why do you have to keep bending and unbending it? why can't you just hold the bend and it keeps zooming in? seems an annoying oversight to me
    Reply
  • thats exactly what it is
    Reply
  • aaron686
    twisted politikswhy do you have to keep bending and unbending it? why can't you just hold the bend and it keeps zooming in? seems an annoying oversight to me
    The guy is doing that to avoid zooming in too close, as you can clearly see, it continues to zoom in when he holds the position, then he releases it to maintain control, not because the device isn't capable.
    Reply
  • micky_lund
    _cubase_"*bend... SNAP!*...."Too close".LOL
    Reply
  • mlopinto2k1
    Well.. for some reason I am baffled why no one is impressed with a flexible LCD display. IT'S A FRIGGIN FLEXIBLE, FLAT SCREEN PEOPLE!! THE FUTURE IS HERE!
    Reply
  • tayb
    It's neat but it's not something we haven't seen before and the "bend to zoom" idea is pretty useless in my opinion. I'm still trying to think of practical civilian uses for these types of displays. The cool factor is definitely there but I just don't see what I'd be using it for yet. I lack imagination for this sort of stuff but I've never encountered a scenario in my life where I think to myself "well damnit if only this display were flexible."
    Reply
  • agnickolov
    Once bent, it's no longer flat by definition :)...
    Reply
  • archange
    Warp factor 3 Mr. Sulu!
    Reply