It doesn’t progress the story very far because we still don’t know all the participants, but the Microelectronics & Computer Technology Corp has now formally announced its group formed to develop ways to produce inexpensive flat-panel display screens, under the name the Field Emissions Display Consortium; the aim is to produce flat-panel screens that are as bright, sharp and colourful as cathode ray tubes and are both superior to the ghastly things we’re expected to use today, and cheaper than the currently available flat screens; the consortium has begun with a fast start study to assess the technical feasibility, manufacturing requirements and business impact of such screens, and will seek to develop cost-effective manufacturing processes early in the five-year project – in January it hopes to build prototypes of the screens and lay the groundwork for a high-volume production facility; the final phase will involve creation of one or more production plants.
