There’s a lot of buzz around flexible electronics today, and rightfully so.

The convergence of these technologies, including wearable devices and foldable displays, enable innovative form factors and features that provide consumers with highly personalized experiences.

The market is segmented by application (displaying, lighting and sensing) and end-user (automotive, aerospace, health and wellness, electronics, medical, military and robotics). But, how exactly are these electronics manufactured to flex and fold without breaking across their various use cases? Below, we explore how the technology has evolved over the years.

The origins of flexible displays can be traced back to the ’70s. Though there have been many breakthroughs since then, it was only recently that this technology began to see consumer adoption for mass production.

Currently, 90% of displays sold today are made with glass. These designs are based on liquid crystal displays (LCD). Flexible displays are often based on organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology, which is fundamentally different than LCD.

So, how does this technology flex and fold? Below, we explore how to create flexible displays using OLED over LCD.

IDTechEx Show 2018 was truly a success. With industry representation from all facets of the printed, hybrid and flexible electronics community, this year’s conference brought a combined 280 exhibitors and 3,5000 attendees to Santa Clara, California for two days of non-stop tech. 

Unable to attend? Don’t fret. The Promerus team highlights their top takeaways from the conference below.

In recent years, several top-tier manufacturers have touted flexible displays for smartphones and watches. Yet, origins of the flexible display can be traced back to the ’70s when Nicholas K. Sheridon produced the first-ever flexible e-paper display. 

Since this major breakthrough, there’s been a growing interest among engineers, designers and manufacturers to apply this technology to everyday life. This stems from an intensifying demand by consumers for devices that are smaller, lighter and thinner.

It’s only a matter of time before the next generation of flexible displays emerges. Below, we take a look at what’s to come in a future that’s flexible.

Flexible displays have the potential to enable sensors and systems that change our lives. In some areas, they already do.

If you follow the latest in emerging materials, components and devices, it’s likely you’ve heard the term flexible electronics.

While flexible electronics have been in the making for more than a decade, there’s no telling what the future holds. Despite advances in research and development, there are still questions surrounding the complexity of this technology.  

To break it down to the basics, we’re sharing the top three things you should know about flexible electronics below.

Flexible electronics have been in the works for decades. However, recent reports prove flexible electronics are becoming a reality in many commercial applications.

In fact, Markets and Markets projects the flexible electronics market to grow from $23.92 billion in 2018 to $40.37 billion by 2023. The convergence of these technologies including wearable devices and foldable displays has enabled consumers to stay connected in real time while going about their lives. But the benefits don’t stop there.