Pixel Qi

As we move to the future more and more of our devices have screens, but really the LCD, Plasma, and OLED screens we traditionally use don’t differ that much. They all draw too much power killing the battery life of our devices and cannot be seen very well in direct sunlight. The alternative E-Ink has amazing battery life that can last weeks and can be read easily in direct sunlight but has a very slow refresh rate unsuitable for video and does not display color. Pixel Qi, pronounced Chee, is what many believe the future of display screens is. It is the marriage of these two types of technology, so at the touch of a button you can switch between E-Ink and a traditional LCD.

This technology uses a type of E-Ink and has a color LCD behind it basically that displays the colors. When you are in the sun you can switch the backlight off and your left with a black and white screen easily readable in direct light. The Pixel Qi has a thin strip of reflective material behind the E-Ink so that when it’s off it looks silvery and reflective instead of a dark black like most LCD screens. The reflective material is what makes everything work it allows color through but no sunlight letting you easily see everything when the backlight is off.

Pixel Qi is already poised to start releasing their screens to any computer maker that wants one. Currently they are only shipping ten inch screens and one of the first uses of their screens will be in a tablet called Notion Ink which some believe will be a contender to the iPad. The Notion Ink will be good for up to 48 hours standby on its integrated rechargeable Li-Ion battery, 8 hours of HD video playback and 16 hours of internet surfing over WiFi. Numbers that certainly best the iPads and will make ...

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...el Qi screens are, there are a few draw backs. The screens cannot match the deep, rich color and sharpness of traditional LCD screens and the battery life Cannot compete with the length of E-Ink. Many believe that these things can be worked out with time, but Pixel Qi will not take over all screens because some technology does not benefit from it such as TVs and Desktop Computers.

Conclusion

Pixel Qi is not the revolution of the LCD screen by any means but rather the evolution. The Pixel Qi’s greatest strength is that it is easy to convert traditional manufacturing methods so that they can implement all the benefits that come with Pixel Qi screens like great direct sunlight visibility, improved battery life, and a full color screen capable of video.

Works Cited
Stone, B. (2010, January 11). Optimism takes charge at consumer electronics show. New York Times, B8.