Monthly Archives: June 2016

Sensors at Sensor Expo & Conference 2016

June 22, 2016

I just attended the Sensor Expo & Conference 2016, which was held by Questec LLC in San Jose, California this week. It’s a very good conference with 60+ technology presentation sessions and 300+ exhibitors this year.

There are over 20 sensor technologies showcased in the Sensor Expo: motion sensor hub (accelerometer, gyroscope, etc), photodiode sensors, proximity touch sensor,  P-cap touch sensor, camera-based face recognition, MEMS-based voice sensor,  short-range wireless and other sensor technologies.

Figure: Microchip showcased motion sensing solutions

Microchip motion sensing solution

Photo by: Touch Display Research

In the recently published “Sensors for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence market 2016 Report,” Touch Display Research forecasts that sensors for AR, VR, and AI market will be $97 billion in 2017, and will reach $160 billion in 2022.

Figure. Sensors for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence market forecast

Sensor AR VR 2016 forecast

Source: Touch Display Research Inc., May 2016

Sensors are very critical components for augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence devices. For example, the HTC Vive has 80 integrated sensors. AR, VR, and AI are the next big things. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung, LG, Intel, Qualcomm, Facebook are all working on these technologies.

The “Sensors for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence market 2016 Report” is available immediately and includes a PowerPoint file (over 300 pages) and an Excel database.

You can subscribe on our website: www.touchdisplayresearch.com in the Market Research Report page or contact us by email: jc@touchdisplayresearch.com

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team

Touch screen with ITO-replacement going to mainstream

June 15, 2016

Touch screen with ITO-replacement is gaining momentum for >50-inch sizes category. We can see this trend at SID 2016 DisplayWeek.

3M showed 55-inch touch table with metal mesh touch screen.

C3Nano demonstrated 55-inch silver nanowire transparent conductor touch display.

Microsoft’s keynote discussed their 55-inch and 84-inch interactive Surface Hub that can sense both finger touch and active pen.

In the ITO Replacement—Non-ITO Transparent Conductor Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast 2016 Report, sixth edition, Touch Display Research analyzed over 240 companies and research institutes working on advanced transparent conductive (TC) materials. The report provides a detailed analysis of metal mesh, silver nanowire, carbon nano tube (CNT), conductive polymer, graphene, and other technologies.

Touch Display Research forecasts that the ITO-replacement market will reach $13 billion by 2023.

Figure: ITO replacement comparison chart

ITO replacement compare with TDR2016

Source: Touch Display Research Inc., ITO-Replacement Report, 2016

The ITO-replacement industry has made good progress in the touch panel and other applications in the past two years. However, not all companies are growing and you need to be very selective. The specifications of over thirty metal mesh suppliers are compared side-by-side in one chart in the Excel database.

We forecast that ITO-replacement will become the major transparent conductor for touch panels after 2021. ITO will be the minor transparent conductor for touch panels.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team

 

 

 

Flexible, curved, bendable displays at turning point for fast growth

June 9, 2016

Flexible display is at the turning point for fast growth. We can see this trend at SID 2016 DisplayWeek.

Japan Display Inc. (JDI) showcased several curved AMOLED displays. Two of the curved AMOLED were in a glass box. Another curved AMOLED demo is integrated with a curved touch screen on it.

E Ink showed large size flexible active matrix electrophoretic display.

FlexEnable showcased flexible LCD for wrist wearable devices.

In the “Flexible, Curved, and Bendable Display Technologies and Market Forecast Report.” (Second Edition), Touch Display Research analyzed over 10 display technologies, over 14 applications of flexible displays, and shows how the flexible display market is accelerating. This report profiles over 270 companies working on flexible displays.

OLED is the most researched with 46 companies and research institutes working on it. Touch Display Research believes there are strong opportunities for flexible LCD as well since it could be lower cost than flexible AMOLED.

Touch Display Research forecasts that the flexible display market will reach $30 Billion by 2025.

Figure 1. Flexible, curved and bendable display market forecast to 2025

flexible 2016 forecast with TDR

Source: Touch Display Research, Flexible, Curved and Bendable Display Technologies and Market Forecast 2015 Report, second edition

Flexible display could be used in four types of form factors: bendable dynamic, foldable dynamic, fixed curved, flat with flexible substrate. Currently, flexible displays are already shipping in large volumes. We forecast that flexible, curved and bendable displays will have tremendous growth in the next several years.

Flexible, curved and bendable displays still face many challenges. Over 10 display technologies could be made into flexible curved bendable form factors. Challenges and opportunities are analyzed in the report.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team

ODG showcased smart glasses with gesture control at AWE 2016

June 2, 2016

I just returned from AWE (Augmented World Expo) 2016 conference. AWE is the largest event dedicated to AR, VR and wearable technology.

At AWE 2016, ODG (Osterhout Design Group) showcased its smart glasses with gesture control.  Touch Display Research had a chance to try on the R-7 smart glasses and test the gesture control.

Figure: Dr. Colegrove tried on the ODG smart glasses at AWE 2016.

Jenny gesture near eye device small

Photo credit: ODG

In the recently published “Sensor for Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence 2016 report”, Touch Display Research profiled 67 companies working on camera-based gesture-control. This number has increased from 56 companies just two years ago.

Figure 2. Companies working on gesture control, voice recognition and other touchless HMI sensors.

touchless company number 2014-2016

Source: Touch Display Research, Sensors for AR VR and AI 2016 report

More analysis and review can be found in the “Touch and Emerging Display report” June 2016 issue.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team