OLED show the place every pixel can emit sound independently—turning screens into slim, multichannel speaker programs and paving the best way for immersive, speaker-free audio in laptops, automobiles, VR, and extra.
In a improvement that would redefine multimedia gadgets, researchers at POSTECH (Pohang College of Science and Expertise) have created the world’s first Pixel-Primarily based Native Sound OLED expertise. This enables every pixel in an OLED panel to emit totally different sounds concurrently—primarily turning the display right into a multichannel speaker array.
Led by Professor Su Seok Choi and Ph.D. candidate Inpyo Hong, the staff demonstrated the expertise on a 13-inch OLED panel, just like these utilized in tablets and laptops. As OLED and QD-display applied sciences strategy maturity, the push is now towards immersive, multisensory experiences. Whereas present gadgets provide gorgeous visuals, they nonetheless depend on exterior soundbars or audio system—particularly in compact areas like automobiles or VR headsets—limiting the potential for immersive audio.
To beat this, the staff built-in ultra-thin piezoelectric exciters immediately into the OLED show. These exciters, organized like pixels, generate localized sound with out including bulk or compromising the panel’s skinny profile. This allows crosstalk-free audio, the place a number of sounds from totally different display areas don’t intervene with one another—in contrast to present options with exterior {hardware}.
The expertise opens up a bunch of real-world purposes. In autos, for instance, drivers may hear navigation cues whereas passengers get pleasure from music—all from a single show. In cell or VR gadgets, audio can dynamically observe person motion, including to the sense of realism.
Crucially, the staff’s profitable demo on a commercial-sized panel confirms that the expertise isn’t just theoretical however prepared for future deployment. With its slim profile, high-fidelity sound, and talent to ship spatial audio with out exterior audio system, Pixel-Primarily based Sound OLED might be the subsequent large leap in show innovation.
“Shows are evolving past simply exhibiting visuals—they’re changing into absolutely immersive sensory interfaces,” mentioned Professor Choi. “Our Pixel-Primarily based Native Sound OLED expertise might be a game-changer for smartphones, laptops, autos, and VR purposes.”
