Future display technology: Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display
Initial specifications: 1080p (1920×1080) resolution, 1 msec response time (handles fast motion), and an extremely high 100,000:1 dynamic range ratio! + low power consumption! = ultimate display technology !?
Detailed article:
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/feature.aspx?CIaFID=1428
News update (Oct. 3rd, 2006):
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/55-inch-sed-hdtvs-on-the-way-in-08
Canon & Toshiba have just annonced that SED displays will finally be hitting shelves in limited quantities by late 2007, and entering mass production in 2008. Leading the charge will be these 1080p 55-inch models with 450 nits of brightness, 50,000:1 contrast ratio, stunning 1ms response time…and no price tag yet!
With Samsung, Sharp and Sony releasing “Full HD” LCDs in the 50-inch range for around 5 large this fall, the market in 2008 could be tough to crac!
News update (Jan. 2007):
SED Won’t Become Commodity article
Toshiba plans to start shipping SED products in fall 2007, but considers focusing on professional users at first, positioning the SED as a “limited, pricey, high-end” product. Nishida said the company’s plan to build an SED volume-production facility in Himeji is “advancing on track.” However, saying the SED is not “competitive against the LCD TV” in the market for consumer TVs, Nishida indicated that Toshiba is not planning to bring SED to the current consumer TV market.
Postponed again (May 25 2007):
Canon press release
Canon Inc. today announced that it has decided to postpone for the time being the launch of next-generation flat-panel SED* televisions … Reasons for the postponement include prolonged litigation currently underway in the United States and efforts to establish mass-production technology aimed at realizing further cost reductions.
SED might be dead/too late!... too bad … meanwhile, plasma, LCD screens are getting better and better and cheaper!
Good news (August 2008):
Canon wins SED lawsuit, can produce SED displays again
In spite of their legal success, Canon announced at the same time that the financial crisis of 2008 was making introduction of the sets far from certain
... [but] ... a source within Canon told me at the show that the SED is still very much alive as a pro monitor technology
(wikipedia SED article)
May 2010: SED’s dead
Canon officially announced on 25 May 2010 the end of the development of SED TVs for the home consumer market,[26] but indicated that they will continue development for commercial applications like medical equipment.
(wikipedia SED article)