FED apparently not dead, baby, Field Emission Technologies sells out to AUO
By Richard Lawler 
posted January 22nd 2010 2:42PM
posted January 22nd 2010 2:42PM
Returning just in time to do battle with LPD for vaporware of 2010 award, Field Emission Display technology is still kicking. We'd heard that Field Emission Technologies was closing its doors, but here's the president of Field Emission Technologies Shohei Hasagawa (left) clasping hands with the CEO of display manufacturer AUO, Dr. L.J. Chen, and FET Japan prez Jun Yamazaki celebrating the sale the technology. Apparently AUO plans to develop the CRT-rivaling flat-screen displays for high end display applications. Can it pick up where Sony left off? We're doubtful, but the sale means at least a slim hope professionals could be looking into something even sweeter than plasma or LCD sometime soon.
Meh! The world has moved on.
SED isn't dead either. I'm sure Canon is prepping something in secret.
Oled, SED, etc are dead. With plasma and led lcd's getting bigger, cheaper, thinner and improved picture quality, those other technologies will take years and a ton of money to be consumer ready.
@kevon27
You should acknowledge that Plasma display technology was first invented in 1964. Not 1984. Not 1994. And not 2004. As such, plasma flat-panel display technology, as an invention, is +45 years old. Also, twisted nematic (LCD) came in around ~1970. Another +40 year old technology.
Conversely, FED came in, as an invention, in the early 1990's. Canon didn't even begin work into SED until 1986. So, maybe in ~30 years from their respective starts we can expect the same. And as all good mass-produced electronics manufacturers, why would there be an incentive to kill the cow that is still half full of milk before moving onto the next cow?
Now, like all good little cowsumers, drink your aging milk, moo a little on dated technologies, and don't complain when that aging milk is a little skim on black levels and real On/Off Contrast Ratios.
Mooooo!!!!
@(Unverified)
Well, Pioneer already presented a prototype Plasma with infinite black levels 2 years ago, so the only thing left to do is to find economical ways of incorporating that tech (Panasonic being the most likely ones to do it). That really only leaves phosphor trails as the last problem area that needs improvement on Plasmas (and perhaps the tendency for burn-in has room for slightly more improvement).
I don't think they'll be viable as consumer products.
I think they'll be used (SED maybe) as evaluation grade monitors.