Interactive Displays: The Next Omnipresent Technology [Point of View]

Visual display of information is an obvious requirement in today,s highly digital world, and constitutes a powerful means of conveying complex information. This stems from the ability of the human eye and brain to perceive and process vast quantities of data in parallel. The history of visualizing information can be traced to the ancient era, when our ancestors carved images on cave walls and monuments. Mosaic art form emerged in the 3rd millennium BC, using small pieces of glass, stone, or other materials in combination to display information. These pieces are similar to pixels in the modern electronic display. The electronic display has become the primary human-machine interface in most applications, ranging from mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops to TVs, signage, and domestic electrical appliances, not to mention industrial and analytical equipment. In the meantime, user interaction with the display has progressed significantly. Through sophisticated hand gestures, the display has evolved to become a highly efficient information exchange device. While interactive displays are currently very popular in mobile electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, the development of large-area, flexible electronics, offers great opportunities for interactive technologies on an even larger scale. Indeed technologies that were once considered science fiction are now becoming a reality; the transparent display and associated smart surface being a case in point. Examines the market for interactive displays as the next omnipresent technology.