Army Wrist Display Uses 4.3 Inch OLED

A wrist band with a 4.3 inch flexible OLED display is now being actively tested by the U.S. Army.


(U.S. Army wristband display)

The prototype wrist-mounted flexible OLED display devices were designed and built as part of a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) funded program to develop a thin, lightweight and ruggedized communications device. During simulated exercises at the Fort Dix facility, the wrist-mounted devices were shown depicting a number of different sources of information, including a real-time unmanned air vehicle (UAV) video feed and various other images received through computers running different applications. These devices have the potential to provide soldiers with advantages in the field that could mitigate risk and improve operational performance.

The eight units each contain a 4.3" QVGA full-color, full-motion AMOLED display using amorphous-Silicon (a-Si) TFT backplanes designed and fabricated on thin metallic foil by LG Display. The front planes were then built on top by Universal Display using its high-efficiency, full-color PHOLED technology and materials. The use of Universal Display’s PHOLED technology enables these displays to consume less power than comparable AMLCDs, an extremely important feature to lighten the load of electrical power requirements. Designed and integrated by L-3 Display Systems, the units offer various advanced communications features, all integrated into a thin and rugged housing that comfortably fits around a soldier’s wrist. “L-3 Display Systems is pleased to continue our long-standing collaboration with Universal Display Corporation to bring this innovative technology to the warfighter,” said David Huffman, Chief Scientist for L-3 Display Systems. “These devices will increase the user’s situational awareness, while reducing the power and weight required by current display technologies.”

Fans of the Fallout game series might be reminded of the RobCo Pip-Boy 3000.


(Pip-Boy from Fallout 3)

The Pip-Boy 3000 is a hand-held electronic device produced by RobCo Industries and is one of several Pip-Boy models that were issued as standard to Vault-Tec Vaults. The device has numerous functions, and its capable of displaying the character's stats, area maps, inventory, Geiger counter, and radio. It is also possible to illuminate the screen to a level that is sufficient to light the area immediately around the user, acting as a makeshift lantern in darkened areas.
(From Pip-Boy 3000)

Readers may also recall the wrist bracelet viewer from Roger Zelazny's excellent 1980 novel Changeling:

Mark brushed back the soft green sleeve of his upper garment and pressed several buttons on the wide bracelet he wore upon his left wrist... He controlled [the bird's] passage with the wristband and saw through its eyes upon the tiny screen in the bracelet's center.
(Read more about Zelazny's wristband viewer)

Also, fans of the science fiction movie Predator will remember the alien wrist display; among its various functions - detonate nuclear blast.


(Predator wrist display and PDA)

From (PDF) via MIT's Technology Review.

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