[Rumor]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/10/10/s...?eref=rss_tech

This looks interesting. So many cool things could be done with these. Hopefully, they work the bugs out in the next few years, and not the next few decades.

[iMOTOR]

I was surprised to learn that flat panel lighting dates back to the 1960’s:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroluminescence

[osiris]

Pretty cool. I foresee a future of lively print media, and stuff like greeting cards with video.

Maybe we're 10 years away from disposable tear-away computers?
Hmm. Powered by Bounty.

[zro]

Originally Posted by iMOTOR 

I was surprised to learn that flat panel lighting dates back to the 1960’s:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroluminescence

I remember having a rectangular night light like that when I was a kid. It was hypnotic. Or magic. Either way I thought it was bad.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Maybe we're 10 years away from disposable tear-away computers?

I'm no radical environmentalist, but the idea of disposable computers makes me concerned.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

I'm no radical environmentalist

I know you're a troll from Greenpeace.

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

but the idea of disposable computers makes me concerned.

You're right, my bad.
They'll be recyclable - if not edible (maybe we can use the kind of printer that makes edible cake designs).

[ghporter]

There's been a product out (albeit usually in smaller sized units) for at least 10 years that does this. It's called "LightSheet." It's been really big in lighting models; unsurprisingly, they still use the email "[email protected]", though they still don't have their own web site. LightSheet products are flexible, cutable electroluminescent sheets that come with the appropriate electronic driver devices, allowing you to light all sorts of things with battery voltages.

With that said, being able to print up HUGE sheets of EL is great. An EL display backlight would be even cooler and lower-power consuming than an LED backlight; think of how much cooler a large flat-screen TV could be with only a tiny wattage going toward backlighting it.