In many movies and media that portray the future, transparent screens and video displays are some of the most widely used elements to show high-tech societies. This technology seems to slowly mirror our reality because, as part of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2024, the electronics brand LG announced the Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) signature T. The letter “T” stands for “transparent”, thus making the OLED signature T a transparent display TV.
LG presented the TV as the world’s first wireless transparent OLED TV with a 77-inch OLED display. LG stated, “The OLED T becomes a transparent digital canvas for showcasing artwork, videos, or photos with the Always-On-Display (AOD) feature. The content displayed on the transparent screen appears to float in the air, yet simultaneously fuses with the surrounding space to create a compelling and atmospheric visual effect.” Using its transparency, it allows the TV to be placed in more diverse locations. It could be placed near a window without disturbing its view, or placed as a room divider when turned off. The brand describes, “Practically invisible when turned off, the TV blends into the environment and frees users from the long-standing problem of what to do with the ‘big black screen’.”
The device is presented to use video and audio transmission technology using the Zero Connect Box by LG, enabling wireless technology. The box sends 4K images and sounds to the TV, allowing the model to be placed anywhere free of electric cords and outlets. Also, an artificial intelligence processor, the new Alpha 11 AI processor, is equipped to enhance the graphic quality of the screen, which LG claims to provide a 70 percent improvement in graphic performance and a 30 percent faster processing speed compared to its predecessor.
LG’s OLED signature T is expected to hit the market in the second half of 2024, viewable in transparent and opaque modes. When transparent mode is active, the TV can be seen through to see the rest of the room, while showing art, videos, and data such as weather and news. During opaque mode, it functions as a normal TV, deploying a contrast screen.
However, LG stated that the quality of the screen does not match the current top-quality models, but is in line with the company’s mid-range OLED TVs. This is due to the transparent functionality of the TV, hindering the graphic quality of the screen. Also, LG did not follow up with release information, leaving the cost and release date of the model unknown. Still, it is likely to become the first adopter technology of transparent screens, which will improve the use of more detailed, bright, and contrasting graphics as thinner displays evolve.
