Sensors, Haptics & Displays

Plastic Logic demonstrated a flexible AMOLED display at Printed Electronics Europe, an event organised by IDTechEx. The flexible device is the direct result of a recently announced collaboration with Novaled, a supplier of OLED materials.

IDTechEx Research's new report "Wearable Technology 2014-2024: Technologies, Markets, Forecasts" comprehensively covers wearable technology and concentrates on wearable electronics and electrics, which will remain over 99% of the business.

The IDTechEx report "Functional Materials for Future Electronics: Metals, Inorganic & Organic Compounds, Graphene, CNT" looks at the new electronics and electrics from the point of view of suppliers of fine chemicals and associated high added value processes.

Delegates from 23 countries will converge in Berlin on 1-2 April at Energy Harvesting & Storage - Europe's leading event on the topic. The event features end users across multiple verticals presenting and attending to discuss their key energy harvesting needs.

As the next Printed Electronics Europe event is now less than 2 weeks away, it is opportune to take a closer look at the successes of the printed electronics industry in Europe. One of the areas where Europe is making a huge impact is in printed sensors.

The worldwide interest in waste heat recovery continues to grow, with a wide range of applications ranging from small harvesters integrated into wireless sensor networks all the way to larger harvesters such as the ones that can potentially be integrated into cars.

There are many cell phone problems that represent huge commercial opportunities over the coming decade as their form and function are transformed beyond recognition.

IDTechEx has found that firms are spending from a few hundred thousand to a few million dollars to fund the creation of printed electronics prototypes. Leading end users will present their needs at Printed Electronics Europe 2014 in Berlin early next month.

2014 has only just begun and already discussions abound on how a "tipping point" has been reached in the field of printed and flexible electronics, a statement mostly backed by the significant interest and accompanying investment by LG and Samsung into the commercialisation of flexible displays.