Flat-panel displays displace large, heavy, power-hungry CRTs

Personal computers, cars, and aircraft are major growing markets for liquid-crystal, electroluminescent, plasma, and vacuum fluorescent displays. However, the displays themselves are limited by technology. It is difficult to make them large enough, with high enough resolution, and with as many shades of color and gray as desired over a wide enough environmental operating range at a cost supportable in the marketplace. The status and future direction of display technologies are examined. The struggle to lower liquid-crystal display (LCD) cost and the promise of LCD projection systems are discussed.<>