LG ‘flexible’ screen set to revolutionise TV viewing

A flexible TV unveiled by LG could pave the way for a revolution in the way we watch and use screens — rolling them up and taking them with us in and out of the home.

The South Korean manufacturer has revealed two new screens, one of which is so flexible it can be completely rolled up and moved without affecting the picture when used again. Experts say this could completely change the way that we use and interact with the various screens, including smartphones.

Will Findlater, editor-in-chief of gadget magazine Stuff, said: “The idea of a roll-up TV may sound like a solution to a problem no one has, but if you consider that the trend is for ever-larger TVs, being able to roll yours up when you’ve finished watching will mean it has less of an impact on your room. The portable big-screen TV could be a fixture of the future home.”

LG is confident it will be able to produce a 60-inch Ultra HD rollable screen by 2017. The flexibility is down to using a “high molecular substance-based polyimide film” instead of plastic.

“Flexible screens are also more durable than unyielding ones, which will appeal to anyone who has ever dropped a smartphone or tablet,” said Mr Findlater.

The second screen unveiled by the company is transparent.

Stuart Miles, chief executive and founder of tech website Pocket-lint, believes that the new technology could lead to a change in the way we consume media from the world around us, with screens in new places that weren’t possible before.

“Advancements in flexible screen technology aren’t just so we can have curved screens in our living room, but screens pretty much anywhere wrapped around things.”

Curved screens have already started to appear, with Samsung launching a curved LED TV earlier this year. One of its smartwatches, the Gear Fit, already comes with a curved display.