Now here’s something to look forward to: LG Philips is trying to patent a new form of flexible OLED screen. This type uses a combination of oil and water to work.

The existing batch of flexible OLED screens is limited by the heat generated by these diodes, which is hotter than the plastic substrate. This makes manufacturing complicated and expensive (which in turn translates to higher prices for products with these screens). The new method, however, uses oil and water connected to plastic electrodes to generate pixels. The oil floats on the water (since it’s lighter) and covers a colored surface beneath. Applying an electric charge reveals the surface and changes the color of the pixel. Cheap and easy, and hopefully makes its way to wide array of gadgets in the near future. Imagine the possibilities.

[via engadget]