The History of Flat Screen TVs, Emily
Beach
Early History - The
first flat screen TV was invented in July 1964 by a team at the University of
Illinois. At the time the school's computers were built using regular computer
monitors, which relied on technology that was inefficient for computer
graphics. To address this problem, professors Donald Bitzer and Gene Slottow
created a flat screen television that emitted light using plasma technology.
LCD Technology - After the first flat screen display was developed in the 1960s, manufacturers began to turn away from plasma technology in favor of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). At the time, LCD screens could be built much larger than plasma screens and could also be operated more efficiently. Ironically, the development of LCD televisions would delay the sale of true flat screens for decades.
The Sharp/Sony Collaboration - In 1996 the Sony and Sharp Corporations agreed on a joint venture to produce large flat screen TVs. At the time, flat LCD screens were available, but were limited to only a few inches in size. Sony owned the trademark for a technology known as Plasma-Addressed LCDs (PALC), which blended LCD and plasma displays to create a better picture. Sony shared this technology with Sharp because at the time Sharp was the industry leader in TV production.
The First Flat Screen TV - In 1997, Sharp and Sony introduced the first large flat screen TV. It was created using the PALC technology and measured 42 inches, a record size at the time. This first model sold for more than $15,000, making it well out of reach for most Americans.
Manufacturers quickly discovered that PALC technology was too
expensive and unreliable for wide-scale use, so they abandoned PALC in favor of
plasma.
Changing Technology - By 2006, the transistors used to create LCD flat screens had progressed to the point that they were able to feasibly compete with plasma screens.
Changing Technology - By 2006, the transistors used to create LCD flat screens had progressed to the point that they were able to feasibly compete with plasma screens.
That year, LCD screens were sold in sizes up to 42
inches, with virtually no difference in price between LCD and plasma models at
this size. To maintain their dominant market share, plasma manufacturers added
screens as large as 103 inches.
By August 2009, LCD flat screens dominated the
TV market, with plasma screens accounting for only 12 percent of TV sales. Many
consumers preferred LCD sets because they were brighter and more efficient than
plasma. Because they were based on a simpler technology, LCD TVs were also much
thinner than plasma models. For very large TVs, however, plasma was still the
most popular choice.
Throughout the next
decade, prices for plasma flat screens declined rapidly as technology improved.
At the same time, researchers began to look for ways to make LCD screens more
viable. By the early 21st century, manufacturers were producing LCD flat
screens as large as 30 inches, while plasma TVs were topping 50 inches.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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