Swiss boffins invent new video display

A BACKROOM OF BOFFINS has developed a new video display technology which provides an unlimited number of colours.

The system developed by the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich uses tiny artificial "muscles" that generate different shades by expanding and contracting in response to electricity.

Led by Professor Andreas Stemmer the team think their invention could allow significant increases in the screen resolution of computer monitors and tellies. Currently, the best a monitor can manage is three 75-100 dots per inch, whereas this system can produce 400 dpi.

According to the boffins, the problem with LCD screens of today is that they start with just one colour. If you want dark red, you need to create that first by mixing the available red with green and blue which is not particularly accurate. This new screen allows you to define the precise wavelength of the colours you want to combine, and display different shades much more accurately.

One of the downsides of the invention was that it initially required a large internal voltage. This problem is being worked around and the boffins are convinced they can get the screen on the market in a decade.

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