In case you missed it, last week was "Display Week" for most of us in the display industry, à la, the premier technology symposium, and expo known as SID. The show was held in Los Angeles on the same downtown city block as the Nokia Theater, where Ryan Seacrest hosted the final "duel of the David’s" for the top American Idol. Lines formed around our venue, not to see the latest in OLED technology, but to get hold of a coveted "free ticket" to the finale of that number-one hit TV show.

Steve Sechrist
Senior Analyst and Editor

But the lines served a purpose to the SID attendees–a reminder that those waiting outside in the California sunshine are the customers of the next generation displays we were discussing inside the show sessions and on the expo floor.

It’s these very fans of the country’s most popular TV show that we are counting on to buy these hot new products. I suspect that if we asked if they really cared that the latest LCD-TV has 120Hz or even 240Hz refresh, all you would get in return is a blank stare. Have they seen David Cook in full HD? Recent studies tell us that only a fraction of the hands that go up, really did get the image in 1920 x 1080 lines, or even 720p resolution.

In some ways, ours is a thankless job in technology. Labeled "nerds," or "gear heads," by those same crowds, we take the time to understand the limits of what we can currently offer and through concentrated research and focused thought, push these limits to create new and better displays. We share our findings with each other at trade-shows like SID for the purpose of improving the image, pushing the technology limits and delivering the goods to the very people who label us.

But let’s not forget the joy in the work. For us living now at a time of terrific transition in the display industry things could not be more exciting as we continue to build on past SID successes. New technologies like OLED now wait in the wings to grab the mantle of dominance from a recent upstart LCD that simply steamrolled over plasma technology, the preeminent flat panel king of the hill, that once commanded a five-figure price tag not from those in the crowd, but from the likes of the "rich and famous."

SID success can be seen in the American Idol crowd outside. For they now at least understand the questions, and have knowledge of LCD and plasma flat panels. And now, because of the work and dedication of those in the display industry, they can afford to watch, not on $10K flat panel sets, but sub-$1K LCDs with knock-your-socks-off color, contrast, refresh, viewing angle, and any other display parameter you can throw out. And people are buying in droves as the technology continues to improve.

So on Wednesday night-last, the US crowned a new American Idol, not knowing that just footsteps away were the very technicians, engineers and researchers that worked so diligently to deliver those images into their homes. Thankless at times, perhaps, but there is a quiet satisfaction in knowing the collective contribution of the work serves to bring joy to millions. And isn’t that really why we’re here?

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