Remember when looking through the TV screen was only possible if it broke? I can't do it, too many memories. The upcoming 100-inch transparent TV will not only let you see through, but promises to do so at a price that won't make you cry. Let's open this window onto the future together.
A revolution as thin as a hair
Imagine a TV as big as a wall, but so thin that you can roll it up like a poster. That's exactly what a group of Korean scientists accomplished with it transparent nano screen (NTS) 100 inches, as thick as a human hair. And no, I'm not exaggerating for more dramatic effect: it really is that subtle.
How does this new technology work? Tony Stark would be synthetic, getting straight to the point: titanium dioxide nanoparticles. These tiny particles are applied to a very thin film through a process called “roll-to-roll”. Imagine rolling out cookie dough, but instead of flour, you're spreading microscopic particles that make the film durable and improve optical quality.
The result? Projected images that remain sharp even when you look at the screen from the sides, with a viewing angle of 170 degrees.
How can TV be transparent when it wants to become… Not transparent?
The goal was achieved by adding a layer of liquid crystals, known as PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal). By applying an electric field, they make the screen more or less transparent, or totally opaque when users want to see more details on the screen.
It's like having electronic curtains built into your TV. Want to see the view behind the screen? No problem. Do you prefer to focus on the breathtaking ending of your favorite series? Just press a button and the screen returns to its traditional task.
The price? The real surprise (spoiler: not astronomical)
You know it better than me: when we hear about such advanced technologies, we always expect mind-boggling prices. But here's the twist: Transparent TV could cost a tenth as much as current transparent OLED screens.
A transparent OLED screen "conventional" 100 inch costs around 70.000 euros. This new wonder could have an initial market price of "only" 7.000 euros. Of course, it's not exactly the price of a discount TV, but it shows how short the path towards the massive diffusion of this technology could be.
Because in the end it is not just a laboratory demonstration destined to remain closed in some research center
The researchers of Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), in collaboration with the private company Meta2People, have already started to commercialize this technology.
Manufacturing is relatively simple and can be replicated under existing manufacturing conditions. Plus, the screen is resistant to extreme heat and cold, so you can use it both indoors and outdoors. Imagine projecting the weather directly onto your living room window. One day, probably, we will have entire screen walls covered in digital "wallpapers" that change shapes and colors.
And then? Beyond transparent TV
But don't limit your imagination only to home screen or home decorations. This technology could disrupt many sectors. Think interactive storefronts, airplane windows displaying flight information, and office walls that become video conference screens.
Il Dr. Jun-Ho Jeong, principal investigator at KIMM, said:
NTS manufacturing technology is a cutting-edge innovative technology created through the combination of nanomaterials and nanofabrication technology with existing IT technologies. In the future, we will focus on research and development to continuously improve the quality of NTS and drive the popularization of transparent screens.
The future is transparent (and in high definition)
The 100-inch transparent TV is a step towards a future where technology blends harmoniously with our environment, enriching our experience of the world without obstructing our view.
It's a future where information, entertainment and reality coexist in a shared space, literally before our eyes. And the most surprising thing? That future may be closer (and cheaper) than we ever imagined.
