Besides, much better OLED's emergence and environment-friendly display device will garner visitors' interest, according to Professor Whang Ki-woong, Seoul National University who serves concurrently as chairman of IMID 2007.
In an exclusive interview with The Korea IT Times, an IT-specialized Korea's leading English Journal held at his office, Seoul National University Campus, located at Shinlim-dong, Seoul, Whang said: "Accordingly, display devices which are felt how much they are convenient to us and how nicely they are felt to us without any stress, are expected to take the initiative of market."
In conjunction with environment-friendly regulation as well, Professor Whang mentioned: "Related display device manufacturers must use environment-friendly material which tallies with Restriction of Hazardous Substances [RoHS] EU imposed. This RoHS prohibits the use of cadmium, solder, mercury, and chrome."
Urgent manpower and source technology nurturing
IMID's growth pace is galloping with a rapid pace as overseas participation from school, laboratory, and company level is continuously on the rise and the conference is becoming more and more internationalized, according to Whang.
The four-day technical sessions of IMID 2007 will consist of high quality 455 peerreviewed papers: 212 oral presentations in 57 sessions and 243 poster presentations.
Professor Whang said that 10% papers were left out of the screening procedure this year whereas 18.7% papers were excluded last year. Thanks to IMID's internationalized recognition degree, foreign participating companies' numbers too increased in the light of the entire relative importance in exhibition side, the information display veteran said.
In a nutshell, he epitomized that IMID is recognized as one of the best three conferences in the world in terms of display-related international conference.
Korea's information display field's activity is even more dazzling in oversea exhibition like Society of Information & Display (SID) which is held in the United States at the end of May yearly, according to Whang.
At this year's SID conference, Korea announced the largest papers presented with 23% whereas the United States remained at 22%. Last year the United States was the first country with 26% whereas Korea accounted for 24% in terms of paper presentation, followed by Japan 18% and Taiwan 16%.
In a certain session like PDP, papers from Korea account for up to 75% and if Korean papers are not announced, even session can't be constituted, Whang explains.
High component material dependence
Touching upon the fact that the Far East is the hub of display, professor Whang notes that Korea locates in the apex.
For instance, Korea's share surpasses 50% in LCD field if the two leading Korean companies are counted together. In the PDP part too, Korea holds two leading companies among three leading companies globally. Moreover, the world's first OLED's mass production preparation is under way in Korea.
In module production side too, Korea holds considerable competitiveness, Whang said. In the light of production capacity, Korea surpasses 50% in the case of LCD and PDP also reaches to 60% if our two Korean companies' shares are counted jointly.
Despite of such brilliant statistics, the display expert professor didn't forget to point out that as regarding Korea display industry's fragility point, staple component material's dependence on foreign country is high and further the fundamental technology is still dependant on foreign sources.
About the role assignment between the government and corporations in relation to manpower and the source technology nurturing, professor Whang proposed: "The nation must bear the responsibility of nurturing human resources and the source technology."
In fact, if corporations come to assume projects which will have to be carried out by the government, corporations come to bear too many burdens, he concerned.
To maintain absolutely international competitiveness and technological superiority in world market, he repeatedly stressed that the government must support these fields.
Whang cautioned the fact that in the twinkle of an eye, Taiwan can outrun us, Japan's efforts to regain the past's glory pay off, and China may emerge as a major player in display device industry in the near future thanks to its enormous financial power and human resources. To sustain continuous competitiveness and to cope with such neighboring countries' challenge for us, the government has to spur on the fundamental source technology development besides nurturing good human strength, Whang said.
A stimulating and meaningful conference
Regarding development trend by IMID 2007 information display technology, TFTLCD (thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display) technology development's focus is tailored to LCD TV's screen quality improvement, especially to moving image embodiment. The United States has established DARPA program to develop flexible display and is said to support technology development fund to industrial circles and academic circles. Europe also is propelling business as a form of EU joint project for the sake of plastic LCD technology development, a next-generation display.
Second, in the case of Plasma Display Panels (PDPs) which attracts attention as a major display of digital broadcasting era, its technology has been developing rapidly starting from the beginning of the 1990s and its commercialization is being propelled in earnest centering on Japan and Korea.
Third, organic lighting emitting diode displays (OLED) is being researched from small size to large size throughout the world as a next-generation display technology.
Japan, Taiwan and Korea have AMOLED's research & development (R&D) briskly under way and western and Asia companies are forming their commercialization group from different angles.
Samsung SDI from Korea serves as No.1 AMOLED producer in the world with over 41% in terms of world market share in 2006, according to Whang. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics/LG Philips LCD too have developed their AMOLED pilot product of 40 inch notch and 20 inch level respectively.
Fourth, in the case of IT information terminal and digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), information display and broadcasting, telecommunication's revolution are being attained with a view to developing cellular phone and DMB which equip with camera and PC function.
Fifthly in the case of flexible display, a new concept's display, diverse embodiment mode is being studied throughout the world.
Efforts to create new market sphere are briskly under way and technology competition too for market preoccupation is being attained fiercely, according to Whang.
LG-Philips LCD has developed 14.1 inch color E-book of A4 paper size for the first time in the world and Samsung Electronics has developed 40 inch Electrophoretic pilot product.
Professor Whang expressed great expectation by saying that this meeting is its 7th series and is expecting enthusiastic participation from researchers, engineers and business persons of the information displays. The papers cover most recent technical advances in all information display devices.
Touching upon its schedule, he introduces that the workshops of IMID 2007 will provide recent updates on hot-topics by world renowned experts and the tutorials are going to offer comprehensive introduction to the information display technology for newcomers.
On August 28, two keynote addresses will be delivered by Mr. Walter Zywottek (Merck KGaA, The Executive Board Member of Merck KGaA, Germany) and Dr. Hee-gook Lee (LG Electronics, Inc., President and Chief Technology Officer, Korea) under the themes of "Liquid Crystals-A Key Component in LCDs" and "Evolution of FPD Industry" respectively.
The business forum too, organized with DisplaySearch, is expected to feature accurate market analyses and predictions for future trends of information displays.
Finally, IMID 2007 Exhibition in concert with EDIRAK is expected to present the best opportunity for exhibitors to reach a large and diverse audience of information displays, according to Whang.
