Sony unveils ultra thin screen that can wrap around a pencil

Sony has just released a prototype OLED display that is so thin and flexible it can be wrapped around a pencil WHILE displaying moving content.

There is a page of technical terms and product specifications that explains the technology in more detail (probably best to see Sony's press release for that), but the video of the prototype is what caught my attention (there were some issues with the embed code but the video is available from Sony's site).

I'm not quite sure about the practical applications for this technology as yet (given the video of the screen being wrapped around a pencil) but ... I suppose the breakthrough with it being ultra thin and flexible is that it could do amazing things for screen functionality on laptops, netbooks and other devices we are now using regularly for consuming content.

I would also imagine that because it can be rolled up, it could be likened to the rolling up of a traditional newspaper, except now, there is only one page that can display all the content. I'm sure there are also some interesting advertising applications the screen can be used for such as a promotional banner that can be safely rolled up at the end of the day, or even a portable presentation device, you could virtually roll out your own screen with your content ready to go. Not to mention the screen being matched with Internet enabled capabilities, where you could dynamically stream new content to the screen over the web.

The most significant symbol the screen represents is the similarity to one of the oldest forms of written content delivery devices ..... a paper scroll. How far we have come to be able to roll a moving image screen display into a similar fashion. I'm looking forward to seeing Sony release more information on the practical applications of this screen.

Westfield Group voyages into online retailing

In an interesting development for online retailing in Australia, Westfield Group has set sail to target eCommerce by extending their powerhouse retail business model into the world of retailing online. Westfield is reported to be in the final stages of negotiations with its retailers to include an online arm to their agreements. Details of exactly how the online business model will work and what functions the online store will offer, both Westfield tenants and consumers, is yet to be announced.

In the late 1990's, Executive Chairman, Frank Lowy, canned proposals to enter into online retailing. This was just before the Dot Com bust, so it was probably a good decision in hind sight. Although, the reason for abandoning online plans at the time was purely because Lowy did not want to corrode foot traffic into retailers stores operating out of Westfield shopping centers. Today, in 2010, Westfield executives see the huge potential of investing in online. 'We have been monitoring the use of technology closely for the past decade, continually improving our capacity and making greater use of the internet to promote our centres and connect with our customers,'' Mr Lowy said. ''We will push on with this evolution during the year ahead.''

This could potentially be a massive boost to online retailing in Australia. I say 'potentially' only because there is so much they could get wrong in between, from designing the right business model for tenants to the actual building of the online mall features which ultimately could mean their focus is diverted from the number one reason for going into retailing ... the consumer. The consumer has so many choices online, if the consumer can not get what they need from Westfield online combined with a great experience, they will go elsewhere within a few clicks. We are a few years behind in online retailing compared to the US and the UK, Westfield should learn from their mistakes and start from where these countries are, not where they were 3 years ago. If they apply the same core principles to physical retailing into their online shopping mall they could quite easily become the number one online retailer in Australia very quickly. Having a trusted name like Westfield operating an online store would boost consumer confidence into spending online and would also give Australians a local option, where currently, we are resorting to overseas websites simply because there is a lack of online presence on our soil.

I think is very exciting and will be watching this space with bated breath.

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