Flexible screen technology ready to roll

In the future, powering up a latptop may require that it is unfolled first.

Engineers at the University of Toronto are the first Canadians to construct flexible organic light emitting devices (FOLEDs), technology that could lay the gateway for future generations of bendable television, computer and mobile phone screens.

Today's flat panel displays are made on heavy, inflexible glass that can break during transportation and installation. Researchers developed FOLEDs made on a variety of lightweight, flexible materials ranging from transparent plastic films to reflective metal foils that can bend or roll into any shape.

FOLED technology could be manufactured using a low-cost, high-efficiency mass production method.

The team, which is already commercialising some related technology, hopes a marketable device could be created within two to three years.