Prysm unveils laser based display

The cathode-ray tube established itself in the last century as the de-facto standard by which images were displayed and, up until the last decade, most television sets and computer monitors were built around one.

But, over the past 10 years, display technology has evolved frenetically and the limitations of the cathode-ray tube with its bulky, heavy and fragile evacuated glass tube have been overcome by a new range of liquid-crystal and plasma displays without the same disadvantages.

Nevertheless, these newer display technologies have brought with them their own set of issues – they are complex to manufacture, consume considerable power and can suffer from problems such as narrow viewing angles, poor colour rendition, burnt-out picture elements and picture burn-in.

Now there’s a new kid on the display block that promises to overcome all of these issues. Developed by a team of engineers working in ’stealth mode’ for the past five years at San Jose-based Prysm, the Laser Phosphor Display (LPD) combines old-style CRT elements with laser technology.