The development in the design and manufacture of display systems first began with the invention of the Cathode-Ray-Tube (CRT) technology by Ferdinand Braun in 1897. The CRT technology was the dominant industry standard for display systems up until the late 20th century. New trends such as the growing demand for mobile electronics increased demand for displays that rival and surpass CRTs in picture quality, size, and power consumption. One of the most prominent technological developments in recent years was the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). In 2015 alone, more than 220 million LCD TVs were sold worldwide, while in 2016, 225 million LCD TVs were sold worldwide. Apart from the CRT and LCD, new technologies such as Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), Plasma Display Panels (PDP), Field Emission Displays (FED) as well as Electronic Papers, are gaining market ground.
Globally, over 200 million units of LCD TVs are sold annually and the ever increasing demand for flat panel displays—and continued evolution of digital technology due to a general desire for higher picture resolution—has led to the widespread use of digital (DTV) and high definition television (HDTV). Computer display monitors and mobile phone displays have also undergone similar changes over time.
