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Plastic Logic a Participant in Large Area Flexible Sensor Consortium
CAMBRIDGE, England, February 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
The FLASHED (Flexible Large Area Sensors for Highly Enhanced Displays) consortium was
formed to develop a large area (A3 size) pressure sensitive display. The development
timeframe is 36 months and the goal is to produce a demonstration piece. Cambridge (UK)
based Plastic Logic's participation was sought due to its wealth of experience in the
development and industrialisation of flexible organic thin film transistor (OTFT)
backplanes for display and sensor applications.
The other participating organisations are Microsoft Research Ltd, also Cambridge
based, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V based in
Germany, Media Interaction Lab from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and
JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, both based in Austria. In addition to
Plastic Logic's OTFT experience it, along with Media Interaction Lab and Microsoft
Research, has experience in the creation and refining of demonstrator pieces.
As well as the demonstrator piece, another commercially-important legacy will be the
resultant portfolio of intellectual property (IP), the licensing and income from which
will be distributed to the participating organisations in accordance with their
pre-existing IP and the particular value they added. The outcome of the FLASHED project
will be to give new impetus to the European display and printed sensor sectors throughout
the value chain. It helps position the emerging European flexible electronics industry in
the equivalent place to that currently occupied by the Asian glass-based display industry
and it will create new opportunities for European companies, not in linear improvements to
existing solutions but in the creation of new and innovative products.
The technology emphasis of the FLASHED device is to develop flexible, energy
efficient, sustainable, cost efficient flexible display. Great emphasis has been placed on
user-friendly interfaces that will incorporate haptic or acoustic feedback with a
pressure-sensing touchscreen.
Four of the main markets are touchscreens, flexible electrophoretic displays, flexible
multimedia displays (where Plastic Logic already has active programmes in flexible LCD and
OLED) and printed sensors. The projected 2017 market value in US$ for such are 28bn, 6bn,
100bn and 0.22bn respectively, with the latter possibly rising to US$20bn for
pressure-sensitive touch interfaces. Applications include touchscreens, e-readers plus low
power applications such as smart cards and wearable devices, flexible OLED and consumer
products, smart packaging and signage.
Project website: http://www.flashed-project.eu
About Plastic Logic
Plastic Logic is the recognised leader in organic thin-film transistors (OTFT) and is
at the forefront of research and investment in plastic electronics. The company has
industrialised the process and now manufactures a range of high-quality flexible plastic
displays. These shatterproof daylight readable displays are ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight
and very low power, offering huge advantages over conventional screens as they are
extremely flexible with proven lifetimes. Flexible displays enable revolutionary design
possibilities and are set to transform existing markets, such as signage, wristwatches and
other wearable devices, and automotive as well as many others. Plastic Logic is backed by
major investors including Oak Investment Partners and Rusnano.
Find out more about Plastic Logic and its robust, flexible displays by visiting
http://www.plasticlogic.com and http://www.youtube.com/plasticlogic.
Companies interested in working together with Plastic Logic should contact
info@plasticlogic.com.
About Media Interaction Lab, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
The Media Interaction Lab is the leading Austrian research lab in the area of
Human-Computer Interaction. As part of the Department for Interactive Media of the
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Hagenberg, the Lab integrates research and
education and provides students with a project-based learning environment. Both
undergraduate, graduate and PhD students from our University and abroad carry out projects
in the lab. Students can undertake projects in the lab as part of their studies or
alternatively work in the lab as an extracurricular activity. Currently, the lab is
working on a range of projects in collaboration with industry and academia. Over the past
six years, the research group has mainly focused on exploring the potential of Interactive
Environments as a medium for dramatic experience. The lab's research has three main
focuses: exploring novel interface technologies, developing new interaction techniques,
and evaluating user interfaces. In FLASHED, the Media Interaction Lab will primarily
develop the natural user interface based on the FLASHED technology. With the strong HCI
experience, the lab will also support the project during the empirical research studies.
About Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e. V. is the
largest organisation for applied research in Europe. Research topics are amongst others
"safety and security", "information and communication", or "environmentally friendly
production". The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research located in Wuerzburg, Germany,
is one of the most experienced institutes with respect to sol-gel materials and hybrid
material concepts. It investigates and optimizes materials to provide new solutions for
topics like: coatings for finishing, materials for energy storage and saving, smart
materials, and materials used in the field of life science (diagnostics and therapeutic
materials). The needs of the industrial customer form the guideline of the material
development of Fraunhofer ISC taking into consideration the function, the processing and
the scalability of the material as well as legally and economic aspects.
For a decade, the institute has been developing materials for printed electronics,
such as dielectrics and barrier materials, and, finally, for printed sensor applications.
This expertise is used in the FLASHED project to create novel sensor concepts, touch
screens and interface technologies. The knowledge is amplified by fruitful long-time
co-operations with Joanneum Research, Austria, and other renowned research institutes and
technology driven companies.
About JOANNEUM RESEARCH
JOANNEUM RESEARCH is a professional innovation and technology provider with a track
record of 30 years in cutting-edge research at international level. It focuses on applied
research and technology development, thus playing a key role in technology and knowledge
transfer in Styria. JOANNEUM RESEARCH actively cooperates with the business and public
sectors to generate new innovations and carries out application-oriented research and
development projects to promote technology transfer to industry. It's strengthens its
activities as a professional innovation and technology provider with a focus on applied
research and technology development.
Institute for Surface Technologies and Photonics: Our team of around 60 researchers
provides interdisciplinary solutions across the entire value chain - from the idea to the
prototype - using cutting edge technologies and methods based on miniaturisation,
integration and materials optimisation. Combined with state-of-the-art equipment and
infrastructure we offer innovative solutions and services tailored to the needs of
business and industry. More than 20 years of close cooperation with leading research
institutions such as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Austrian based Graz University of
Technology or the University of Leoben enable us to continuously improve and extend our
portfolio of expertise.
About Microsoft Research
Microsoft Research is one of the leading research organizations in the world. The
research lab in Cambridge in UK was established over 15 years ago and brings research
expertise into novel sensors, signal and image processing algorithms and human computer
interaction. The Interactive 3D technologies (I3D) group and the Computer Vision group,
the two groups that will be engaged within the FLASHED project, have already been
responsible for projects such as the Kinect body tracking algorithms, the Microsoft Touch
Mouse (a mouse with a curved multi-touch sensor), the Microsoft Surface and the
Sensor-in-Pixel touch display. This level of expertise ranges from the underlying hardware
design through to the user experience.
Plastic Logic
CONTACT: Patrick Too: +44(0)1223 706038, M +44(0)7979050713, e: patrick.too@plasticlogic.com
Plastic Logic a Participant in Large Area Flexible Sensor Consortium
CAMBRIDGE, England, February 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
The FLASHED (Flexible Large Area Sensors for Highly Enhanced Displays) consortium was
formed to develop a large area (A3 size) pressure sensitive display. The development
timeframe is 36 months and the goal is to produce a demonstration piece. Cambridge (UK)
based Plastic Logic's participation was sought due to its wealth of experience in the
development and industrialisation of flexible organic thin film transistor (OTFT)
backplanes for display and sensor applications.
The other participating organisations are Microsoft Research Ltd, also Cambridge
based, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V based in
Germany, Media Interaction Lab from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and
JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, both based in Austria. In addition to
Plastic Logic's OTFT experience it, along with Media Interaction Lab and Microsoft
Research, has experience in the creation and refining of demonstrator pieces.
As well as the demonstrator piece, another commercially-important legacy will be the
resultant portfolio of intellectual property (IP), the licensing and income from which
will be distributed to the participating organisations in accordance with their
pre-existing IP and the particular value they added. The outcome of the FLASHED project
will be to give new impetus to the European display and printed sensor sectors throughout
the value chain. It helps position the emerging European flexible electronics industry in
the equivalent place to that currently occupied by the Asian glass-based display industry
and it will create new opportunities for European companies, not in linear improvements to
existing solutions but in the creation of new and innovative products.
The technology emphasis of the FLASHED device is to develop flexible, energy
efficient, sustainable, cost efficient flexible display. Great emphasis has been placed on
user-friendly interfaces that will incorporate haptic or acoustic feedback with a
pressure-sensing touchscreen.
Four of the main markets are touchscreens, flexible electrophoretic displays, flexible
multimedia displays (where Plastic Logic already has active programmes in flexible LCD and
OLED) and printed sensors. The projected 2017 market value in US$ for such are 28bn, 6bn,
100bn and 0.22bn respectively, with the latter possibly rising to US$20bn for
pressure-sensitive touch interfaces. Applications include touchscreens, e-readers plus low
power applications such as smart cards and wearable devices, flexible OLED and consumer
products, smart packaging and signage.
Project website: http://www.flashed-project.eu
About Plastic Logic
Plastic Logic is the recognised leader in organic thin-film transistors (OTFT) and is
at the forefront of research and investment in plastic electronics. The company has
industrialised the process and now manufactures a range of high-quality flexible plastic
displays. These shatterproof daylight readable displays are ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight
and very low power, offering huge advantages over conventional screens as they are
extremely flexible with proven lifetimes. Flexible displays enable revolutionary design
possibilities and are set to transform existing markets, such as signage, wristwatches and
other wearable devices, and automotive as well as many others. Plastic Logic is backed by
major investors including Oak Investment Partners and Rusnano.
Find out more about Plastic Logic and its robust, flexible displays by visiting
http://www.plasticlogic.com and http://www.youtube.com/plasticlogic.
Companies interested in working together with Plastic Logic should contact
info@plasticlogic.com.
About Media Interaction Lab, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
The Media Interaction Lab is the leading Austrian research lab in the area of
Human-Computer Interaction. As part of the Department for Interactive Media of the
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Hagenberg, the Lab integrates research and
education and provides students with a project-based learning environment. Both
undergraduate, graduate and PhD students from our University and abroad carry out projects
in the lab. Students can undertake projects in the lab as part of their studies or
alternatively work in the lab as an extracurricular activity. Currently, the lab is
working on a range of projects in collaboration with industry and academia. Over the past
six years, the research group has mainly focused on exploring the potential of Interactive
Environments as a medium for dramatic experience. The lab's research has three main
focuses: exploring novel interface technologies, developing new interaction techniques,
and evaluating user interfaces. In FLASHED, the Media Interaction Lab will primarily
develop the natural user interface based on the FLASHED technology. With the strong HCI
experience, the lab will also support the project during the empirical research studies.
About Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e. V. is the
largest organisation for applied research in Europe. Research topics are amongst others
"safety and security", "information and communication", or "environmentally friendly
production". The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research located in Wuerzburg, Germany,
is one of the most experienced institutes with respect to sol-gel materials and hybrid
material concepts. It investigates and optimizes materials to provide new solutions for
topics like: coatings for finishing, materials for energy storage and saving, smart
materials, and materials used in the field of life science (diagnostics and therapeutic
materials). The needs of the industrial customer form the guideline of the material
development of Fraunhofer ISC taking into consideration the function, the processing and
the scalability of the material as well as legally and economic aspects.
For a decade, the institute has been developing materials for printed electronics,
such as dielectrics and barrier materials, and, finally, for printed sensor applications.
This expertise is used in the FLASHED project to create novel sensor concepts, touch
screens and interface technologies. The knowledge is amplified by fruitful long-time
co-operations with Joanneum Research, Austria, and other renowned research institutes and
technology driven companies.
About JOANNEUM RESEARCH
JOANNEUM RESEARCH is a professional innovation and technology provider with a track
record of 30 years in cutting-edge research at international level. It focuses on applied
research and technology development, thus playing a key role in technology and knowledge
transfer in Styria. JOANNEUM RESEARCH actively cooperates with the business and public
sectors to generate new innovations and carries out application-oriented research and
development projects to promote technology transfer to industry. It's strengthens its
activities as a professional innovation and technology provider with a focus on applied
research and technology development.
Institute for Surface Technologies and Photonics: Our team of around 60 researchers
provides interdisciplinary solutions across the entire value chain - from the idea to the
prototype - using cutting edge technologies and methods based on miniaturisation,
integration and materials optimisation. Combined with state-of-the-art equipment and
infrastructure we offer innovative solutions and services tailored to the needs of
business and industry. More than 20 years of close cooperation with leading research
institutions such as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Austrian based Graz University of
Technology or the University of Leoben enable us to continuously improve and extend our
portfolio of expertise.
About Microsoft Research
Microsoft Research is one of the leading research organizations in the world. The
research lab in Cambridge in UK was established over 15 years ago and brings research
expertise into novel sensors, signal and image processing algorithms and human computer
interaction. The Interactive 3D technologies (I3D) group and the Computer Vision group,
the two groups that will be engaged within the FLASHED project, have already been
responsible for projects such as the Kinect body tracking algorithms, the Microsoft Touch
Mouse (a mouse with a curved multi-touch sensor), the Microsoft Surface and the
Sensor-in-Pixel touch display. This level of expertise ranges from the underlying hardware
design through to the user experience.
Plastic Logic
CONTACT: Patrick Too: +44(0)1223 706038, M +44(0)7979050713, e: patrick.too@plasticlogic.com