Tech

How Foldable Displays Are Made – OneZero

Published

5 years ago

February 24, 2020

Harry Miller

Inside the future of smartphone design

Sarvesh Mathi

Feb 24 · 7 min read

The first portable mobile phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, weighed one kilogram, had to be held with two hands, took 10 hours to fully charge, had a 30-minute battery life, and cost $4,000. We’ve come a long way since then. The size and weight of phones have radically decreased over the years, and many form factors have rotated in and out.

Then, with the introduction of the iPhone at the turn of the last decade, mobile phones started growing in size once again. This was driven by demand for larger screens rather than technical limitations. Phones are now comfortably large, but the market for tablets hints at a demand for even larger displays. Some smartphone manufacturers have started to wonder whether we can have phones that still fit in our pockets but also have larger tablet-like displays, or further reduce the size of our current smartphone while still maintaining the display size. These ideas may sound like they defy the laws of science. How can we have something that is big and small at the same time? The solution to this riddle comes in the form of flexible displays.

Samsung Galaxy Fold (left) and Galaxy Z Flip (right). Source: Samsung

In September 2019, Samsung released the Galaxy Fold, a revolutionary device that folded to a pocket-sized phone and opened to a big-screen tablet. Although not the first to feature a foldable display (the relatively unknown Royole FlexPai bagged that spot), it was the first from a major smartphone manufacturer, illustrating the industry’s serious interest in this technology. The Galaxy Fold showed the world what was possible, but its legacy ended there: The $2,000 phone had some serious flaws that could not be easily overlooked.

Samsung’s follow-up was the Galaxy Z Flip, released this month. It’s a modern twist on the popular flip phones from the 2000s, though once again Samsung wasn’t the first: The Motorola Razr, inspired by its namesake, the tremendously popular Motorola Razr V3 from 2004, was announced just a couple of months before. The Galaxy Z Flip shows an attempt to level up from the short-lived Galaxy Fold.

The Fold and Z Flip show us two form factors that flexible displays enable, but the possibilities don’t end there. To imagine what else flexible displays can do, let’s first understand how they are made.

How are flexible displays made?

Flexible displays use the same OLED technology found in all flagship smartphones, like the iPhone 11 Pro and OnePlus 7 Pro. In a flexible display, the main components that comprise an OLED display (anode, organic conductive layer, organic emissive layer, and cathode) are applied on a substrate. The basic working principle is that when current is passed from the cathode to the anode, the organic layers in between release energy in the form of light.

Source: Alkilu

You do not need to know much about all this except that in a flexible display, these layers need to be flexible. Traditionally, the anode has been made of an inflexible material called ITO, and the substrate has been hard glass or plastic. But Samsung solved one part of this puzzle some years ago. It has been using flexible plastic substrates in its phones since 2015. Apple has been using them since the iPhone X. This is what gives the Galaxy range of phones displays that are curved on the edges and the iPhones wafer-thin bottom bezels.

Curved edges on the Samsung Galaxy S8 (left), and folded OLED inside the bottom of the Apple iPhone X (right).

The anodes in these phones, however, are still probably ITO, which only allow for a slight bend. And as you’ve probably figured out, the outer coverings on these phones are made of rigid glass — more specifically, Gorilla Glass, a tried and tested covering that offers scratch resistance, durability, and great aesthetics. More importantly, glass prevents water damage, which could otherwise easily destroy the organic layers. But as a result, phones with slightly flexible OLEDs are trapped in rigid, unfoldable bodies. Adding to the challenges of making a flexible display is that the manufacturing process needed to apply the many layers on the substrate must avoid using high temperature. Unlike glass, flexible plastics have a lower tolerance of high temperature.

With the introduction of Galaxy Fold, it appears that Samsung has solved additional pieces of the puzzle. It developed a flexible anode and has found ways to use flexible polymer as outer covering. And it’s also shown that large-scale production of flexible displays is possible.

With the Galaxy Flip Z, Samsung has also shown that ultra-thin flexible glass, which is functionally and aesthetically superior to polymer, can also be used for the outer covering. But the authenticity of Samsung’s glass is under scrutiny. Hence, we still have this piece of the puzzle unsolved. There are signs of progress here as Corning, which supplies glasses to most smartphone manufacturers, is also developing flexible glass that should be ready for mass use within a year or two. This glass should hopefully give us the same benefits as the widely used Corning Gorilla Glass. (For more on how foldable displays are made, check out Engadget’s video.)

Another one of the shortcomings that still remains is the inevitable crease formed at the fold, which is an unpleasant move away from the seamless displays we are accustomed to. Add to this list the use of a mechanical hinge. Anything that repeatedly folds and unfolds on a seam causes stress that could lead to failure, and the durability of the hinges on foldable phones have yet to survive the test of time. The hinges on foldable phones are yet to survive the test of time, and this was infamously exhibited by the Galaxy Fold and the Motorola Razr. Another concern some raise is that the wait may be long for apps to take advantage of and support the features of a foldable phone, such as seamless continuity from the small screen to the big screen or splitting the screen for different purposes. But with Android officially announcing support for foldable phones, this should happen sooner than expected.

The form factor of the future

Having made many technological breakthroughs with the display, we are now more ready than ever to have foldable phones. But for now, foldable phones still rely on mechanical hinges. To have a truly foldable phone that can be rolled in any way and exhibit paper-like qualities, we must figure out a way to make all the parts inside the phone flexible as well. This includes the entire phone casing, the processors and chips, the battery, cameras, and so on. Nevertheless, we will soon see major smartphone manufacturers experiment by releasing all sorts of flexible display phones as they try to define the next-generation smartphone form factor. We also still have to figure out a way to use glass or similarly durable material as outer covering. Nevertheless, we will soon see major smartphone manufacturers experiment by releasing all sorts of flexible display phones as they try to define the next-generation smartphone form factor. Case in point: Here’s a prototype from TCL with a slide-out display.

In addition to phones, wearables and TVs also stand to benefit tremendously from the innovations in flexible displays. Some of the devices that manufacturers have already showcased include watches with flexible screen straps, T-shirts and hats with embedded displays, car infotainment systems that seamlessly bend with the shape of the dashboard, and TVs that roll down to sit flush with the furniture. These are only what we know so far; there are many ideas and creations that are yet to come.

“Don’t limit your thinking to simple two-plane folding phones,” says Jon Honeyball, managing director of Woodleyside IT, a U.K.-based electronic equipment testing laboratory. “The underlying technology here, which is ultra-thin self-emitting light OLED panels, is way, way bigger than just this.” In a few years, it won’t be surprising if you can read this article on a digital paper that you can roll and toss away in your backpack. The future ahead is exciting, and with the vast resources and boundless imagination of the tech industry, the list of what is possible with flexible displays is endless. Unlike the past, the road toward the next form factor might not be a single one; it might diverge in more ways than ever before. And as customers, we stand to benefit from a plethora of choices, as well as shape them.

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News

The Internet is Littered in ‘Educated Guesses’ Without the ‘Education’

Published

2 weeks ago

October 8, 2024

Nick Kossovan

Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.

The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.

Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.

The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.

Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.

On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.

The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.

More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.

Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:

You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!

Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.

Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.

There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.

Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.

Successful people tend to be secretive.

Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.

Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.

Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.

______________________________________________________________

Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s

on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.

Tech

Tight deadlines on software projects can put safety at risk: survey

Published

2 weeks ago

October 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – A new survey says a majority of software engineers and developers feel tight project deadlines can put safety at risk.

Seventy-five per cent of the 1,000 global workers who responded to the survey released Tuesday say pressure to deliver projects on time and on budget could be compromising critical aspects like safety.

The concern is even higher among engineers and developers in North America, with 77 per cent of those surveyed on the continent reporting the urgency of projects could be straining safety.

The study was conducted between July and September by research agency Coleman Parkes and commissioned by BlackBerry Ltd.’s QNX division, which builds connected-car technology.

The results reflect a timeless tug of war engineers and developers grapple with as they balance the need to meet project deadlines with regulations and safety checks that can slow down the process.

Finding that balance is an issue that developers of even the simplest appliances face because of advancements in technology, said John Wall, a senior vice-president at BlackBerry and head of QNX.

“The software is getting more complicated and there is more software whether it’s in a vehicle, robotics, a toaster, you name it… so being able to patch vulnerabilities, to prevent bad actors from doing malicious acts is becoming more and more important,” he said.

The medical, industrial and automotive industries have standardized safety measures and anything they produce undergoes rigorous testing, but that work doesn’t happen overnight. It has to be carried out from the start and then at every step of the development process.

“What makes safety and security difficult is it’s an ongoing thing,” Wall said. “It’s not something where you’ve done it, and you are finished.”

The Waterloo, Ont.-based business found 90 per cent of its survey respondents reported that organizations are prioritizing safety.

However, when asked about why safety may not be a priority for their organization, 46 per cent of those surveyed answered cost pressures and 35 per cent said a lack of resources.

That doesn’t surprise Wall. Delays have become rampant in the development of tech, and in some cases, stand to push back the launch of vehicle lines by two years, he said.

“We have to make sure that people don’t compromise on safety and security to be able to get products out quicker,” he said.

“What we don’t want to see is people cutting corners and creating unsafe situations.”

The survey also took a peek at security breaches, which have hit major companies like London Drugs, Indigo Books & Music, Giant Tiger and Ticketmaster in recent years.

About 40 per cent of the survey’s respondents said they have encountered a security breach in their employer’s operating system. Those breaches resulted in major impacts for 27 per cent of respondents, moderate impacts for 42 per cent and minor impacts for 27 per cent.

“There are vulnerabilities all the time and this is what makes the job very difficult because when you ship the software, presumably the software has no security vulnerabilities, but things get discovered after the fact,” Wall said.

Security issues, he added, have really come to the forefront of the problems developers face, so “really without security, you have no safety.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.

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Tech

Beware of scams during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sales event: cybersecurity firm

Published

2 weeks ago

October 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

As online shoppers hunt for bargains offered by Amazon during its annual fall sale this week, cybersecurity researchers are warning Canadians to beware of an influx of scammers posing as the tech giant.

In the 30 days leading up to Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday, there were more than 1,000 newly registered Amazon-related web domains, according to Check Point Software Technologies, a company that offers cybersecurity solutions.

The company said it deemed 88 per cent of those domains malicious or suspicious, suggesting they could have been set up by scammers to prey on vulnerable consumers. One in every 54 newly created Amazon-related domain included the phrase “Amazon Prime.”

“They’re almost indiscernible from the real Amazon domain,” said Robert Falzon, head of engineering at Check Point in Canada.

“With all these domains registered that look so similar, it’s tricking a lot of people. And that’s the whole intent here.”

Falzon said Check Point Research sees an uptick in attempted scams around big online shopping days throughout the year, including Prime Days.

Scams often come in the form of phishing emails, which are deceptive messages that appear to be from a reputable source in attempt to steal sensitive information.

In this case, he said scammers posing as Amazon commonly offer “outrageous” deals that appear to be associated with Prime Days, in order to trick recipients into clicking on a malicious link.

The cybersecurity firm said it has identified and blocked 100 unique Amazon Prime-themed scam emails targeting organizations and consumers over the past two weeks.

Scammers also target Prime members with unsolicited calls, claiming urgent account issues and requesting payment information.

“It’s like Christmas for them,” said Falzon.

“People expect there to be significant savings on Prime Day, so they’re not shocked that they see something of significant value. Usually, the old adage applies: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Amazon’s website lists a number of red flags that it recommends customers watch for to identify a potential impersonation scam.

Those include false urgency, requests for personal information, or indications that the sender prefers to complete the purchase outside of the Amazon website or mobile app.

Scammers may also request that customers exclusively pay with gift cards, a claim code or PIN. Any notifications about an order or delivery for an unexpected item should also raise alarm bells, the company says.

“During busy shopping moments, we tend to see a rise in impersonation scams reported by customers,” said Amazon spokeswoman Octavia Roufogalis in a statement.

“We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”

Falzon added that these scams are more successful than people might think.

As of June 30, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre said there had been $284 million lost to fraud so far this year, affecting 15,941 victims.

But Falzon said many incidents go unreported, as some Canadians who are targeted do not know how or where to flag a scam, or may choose not to out of embarrassment.

Check Point recommends Amazon customers take precautions while shopping on Prime Days, including by checking URLs carefully, creating strong passwords on their accounts, and avoiding personal information being shared such as their birthday or social security number.

The cybersecurity company said consumers should also look for “https” at the beginning of a website URL, which indicates a secure connection, and use credit cards rather than debit cards for online shopping, which offer better protection and less liability if stolen.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.

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