Next-generation transparent technology revolutionizes how information is displayed in settings ranging from retail merchandizing to museum exhibits to corporate lobbies

Planar Systems announced it will feature new transparent OLED technology this month at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2015.

The 55” prototype at ISE 2015 will utilize breakthrough Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology to improve the transparency of see-through displays, creating new opportunities for experience design while overcoming a major hurdle to transparent display adoption. OLED displays are self-emitting, eliminating the need for a backlight or enclosure. This first-of-its-kind technology demonstrates Planar’s continued leadership in transparent displays, which began 16 years ago and continues with the Planar® LookThru™ Series transparent LCD display offering.

Planar System will be displaying transparent OLED displays at Integrated Systems Europe 2015. (Planar System/LEDinside)

“The vision of transparent displays, popularized for decades in science fiction movies and television shows, is now nearing reality,” said Jennifer Davis, vice president of marketing at Planar Systems. “This technology is poised to revolutionize space design, customer engagement, and the digital display of information and branding for decades to come, and we are proud to be a pioneer in this next wave of transparent display development.”

Transparent displays allow users to view what is shown on a glass video screen while still being able to see through it, enabling them, for example, to overlay digital images onto real objects that sit behind the glass. Based on continued customer feedback and further technology development under way, Planar anticipates adding transparent OLED technology as a product offering in early 2016, paving the way toward broad market adoption.

Ideal for a Broad Range of Applications

Transparent OLED is ideal for a broad range of applications including those in retail, museum and corporate settings. Retailers can install these displays in front of actual products to provide digital information about their merchandise, creating augmented reality experiences. Museums can use them to encourage patrons to interact with exhibits by displaying artifacts overlaid with text, images or video content designed to educate and inspire. Companies can incorporate them into their lobby, cafeteria and conference rooms as a dynamic way to present information to employees and customers while maintaining an interior design aesthetic of modern transparency. Planar’s transparent OLED will allow designers to activate glass surfaces that are incorporated into these spaces, like interior windows, room dividers and partitions.

“We are excited to see the new types of experiences we can create with transparent OLED, "said Thomas Wester, technology director of Second Story, which is part of the storytelling agency SapientNitro. “It represents an exciting new canvas to paint on, and we are proud to be developing one of the first public experiences to demonstrate this technology. Planar is a leader when it comes to innovation in transparent displays and this latest OLED technology demonstration showcases their ongoing commitment to pushing boundaries. With them, we want to encourage the industry and our clients to envision how they might achieve more compelling customer experiences.”

Brilliant Picture Quality, Wide Viewing Angles

Transparent OLED offers brilliant picture quality, exceptional contrast and wide viewing angles. Because the OLEDs themselves emit light, viewing angles are very broad and color performance is exceptional, leading to vivid, eye-catching installations. Moreover, because only those pixels that display content are turned on, a transparent OLED showing video will exhibit better contrast and energy efficiency than traditional displays.

A leader in transparent displays, Planar introduced its first transparent display in 1999. The Planar technology demonstration at ISE 2015 continues the company’s ground-breaking work in see-through displays, which has included both LCD transparent displays and transparent electroluminescent (EL) displays, another emissive display technology pioneered by Planar.

Planar’s transparent OLED technology will be demonstrated February 10-12 at ISE 2015 in Amsterdam, Planar Stand #3-A80. It will also be on display March 10-11 at the Digital Signage Expo (DSE) 2015 in Las Vegas, Planar Booth #1018. For more information, please visit www.planar.com/transparent-oled or watch a video demonstration on Planar's You Tube channel. Members of the media interested in scheduling a press interview or appointment to preview the display at ISE 2015 or DSE 2015 should contact pr@planar.com.