| Type | LED display |
| Developer | |
| Acquired by | |
| Dominant in | TVs • smartphones • tablets • digital devices |
| Market reach | Earth, Luna, and beyond |
| Commercialized | 1989 |
| Country of origin |
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) is a technology used to create digital displays in devices such as televisions, computer monitors, and personal mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Unlike traditional display technologies, OLED displays do not require a backlight and so consume less power, can be thinner and lighter, and offer better image quality with greater contrast and color accuracy.
In this timeline, the technology of OLED technology was developed not by other companies but by OLED Corp, a Japanese electronics company that successfully commercialized it in 1989. This was achieved primarily due to the work of researcher Hiroshi Miyamoto, who discovered and invented the technology while working for the company.
OLED Corp quickly gained market share in Japan, followed by China and other markets, becoming a major player in the global display market and rapidly expanding production.
In 2004, OLED Corp was acquired by Alchem Corp, a leading global technology conglomerate specializing in electronics, chemistry, nanoengineering and biology. This move allowed the company to further develop and streamline OLED technology, with Alchem using its own proprietary materials and production techniques to improve the performance and durability of OLED displays.
Alchem quickly expanded OLED production facilities worldwide, resulting in lower production costs, increased reliability, and wider availability of OLED displays.
Over the next decade, OLED technology became the dominant display technology, eclipsing other technologies such as LCD, LED, and Plasma in terms of market share. OLED displays became commonplace in televisions, computer monitors, and mobile devices worldwide. This dominance was due to their superior image quality, lower power consumption, and their aesthetic flexibility, as OLED displays could be curved or even flexible in shape.
In 2018, Alchem began production of OLED displays for the Lunar market, supplying electronic devices for both commercial and research purposes. The company's advanced technology and extensive experience in manufacturing OLED displays enabled it to quickly expand its operations on the Moon and become an important supplier of electronic equipment to the Lunar colony.
In 2028, Alchem began production of OLED displays for Mars Space Station, a major step forward in expanding OLED technology beyond Earth’s surface and cementing its place as the leading display technology in the growing space exploration and colonization market.
The rise and dominance of OLED displays had significant impact on other display technologies and markets, primarily driving the decline of LCD, LED, and Plasma in favor of OLED technology. This also led to widespread adoption of flexible displays, improving the design and functionality of electronic devices with ever-increasing screen sizes. Additionally, OLED technology created opportunities for completely new types of displays and devices, such as foldable & rollable panels, fabric displays, and biodegradable electronic devices.
With the growing demand for ever more advanced, energy-efficient, and versatile displays, OLED technology has proved itself as the ideal solution for both present and future products, marking a new era of digital display innovation.
