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Panasonic aims for transparency in the living room with see-through OLED display

Panasonic aims for transparency in the living room with see-through OLED display
The transparent OLED display concept from Panasonic and Vitra has been designed to seamlessly blend into the living room
The transparent OLED display concept from Panasonic and Vitra has been designed to seamlessly blend into the living room
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The transparent OLED display concept from Panasonic and Vitra has been designed to seamlessly blend into the living room
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The transparent OLED display concept from Panasonic and Vitra has been designed to seamlessly blend into the living room
When powered off, the transparent OLED concept simply looks like a glass-fronted cabinet
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When powered off, the transparent OLED concept simply looks like a glass-fronted cabinet
When powered on, the transparent OLED display concept can show vivid images and text onscreen, but can also serve as a source of ambient lighting to brighten up the room
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When powered on, the transparent OLED display concept can show vivid images and text onscreen, but can also serve as a source of ambient lighting to brighten up the room
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Panasonic has included a transparent OLED display concept as part of a Salone del Mobile installation from Swiss furniture brand Vitra. Looking like a glass cabinet, the display concept is the first of a number looking at how new technologies can be seamlessly integrated into the modern home.

The transparent OLED display concept is the result of workshops held by Vitra and Panasonic that leveraged the former's expertise in furniture design and the latter's technology know-how to explore the integration of audiovisual devices into our living spaces. More ideas are expected to follow.

The concept was conceived by Scandinavian designer Daniel Rybakken and Panasonic Design Kyoto. When unpowered, the display has the look of a glass pane housed in a wooden frame, but the cabinet's glass bursts into life when powered on, drawing onlookers in to watch what's displayed onscreen.

When powered on, the transparent OLED display concept can show vivid images and text onscreen, but can also serve as a source of ambient lighting to brighten up the room
When powered on, the transparent OLED display concept can show vivid images and text onscreen, but can also serve as a source of ambient lighting to brighten up the room

Apart from the glass front, all other electrical components have been hidden within the frame, which also serves as a stand for the display. And the concept can also provide ambient lighting whether onscreen images are displayed or not.

For the moment, the transparent OLED display is just a design concept, but Panasonic says that it is actively seeking feedback with a view to future production.

As transparent screen concepts go, Panasonic's effort might not be as eye-popping as the 77-inch flexible display LG revealed back in 2017, but it is designed to blend in not stand out. If you're in Milan this week, the concept can be seen at Vitra's booth in Hall 20 at the Salone del Mobile, which runs until April 14.

Source: Panasonic

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3 comments
3 comments
Applejackson75
So are you supposed to pull down a black shade behind it to watch anything on it? How would this produce any sort of contrast? I mean, neat idea for displaying things on a shelf, but absolute garbage for actually watching media.
aksdad
Great pictures of glass with a wooden frame. Where's the actual TV? A picture of it turned on would help. Or is this still vaporware? "Picture, if you will, the glass in the wooden frame has moving pictures on it..."
Kpar
I have no idea if this will prove to be practical or not, but it sure is a cool concept.