OSAKA -- Sharp and Google are jointly developing liquid crystal displays for virtual reality devices that require faster movement and higher resolution than smartphones.
The partnership was revealed by an executive from Google's virtual reality division at a conference organized by the Society for Information Display that ended Friday. The two companies seem to be jointly developing backlights and other technologies that allow for a smooth display and high resolution without leaving afterimages. Going forward, the American-Japanese partnership plans to develop technology that increases the graphic display's response speed.
If they are successful, Google is expected to use the displays in its VR devices.
Virtual reality devices can also use organic light emitting diode, or OLED, displays, but Samsung Electronics is among the only producers. As demand for OLEDs in smartphones rises, it remains to be seen how supply will keep up. Google's goal seems to be the stable procurement of parts by creating technology for virtual reality that takes advantage of the excess supply in LCDs.
In November 2016, Google began to sell VR goggles that can be used with a smartphone. The company has announced that by the end of 2017 it will release goggles that do not require a phone, computer or game to work.
Sharp currently supplies LCDs for smartphones, televisions, cars and more. The company's display business is growing as it increases supply to the budding field of virtual reality.
(Nikkei)
