Advertising is everywhere. It’s in your phone, it’s in your browser, it’ll pre-roll before a YouTube video, heck, even Netflix is planning on serving ads. Soon it’ll be everywhere else. LG is bringing its OLED tech to glass panels, specifically those that occupy trains.
The company showed off its transparent screen (a version of which we believe you can see at the company’s local showroom) at InnoTrans 2022. It’s not new, by any means, but it’s destined for more places than just Japan and China. LG already offers its OLED window-screens to train manufacturers in that country.
We’re being OLED to the future
LG Display is punting its new ‘Transparent OLED for Subway Trains’ product, hoping to set it up on trains in Europe and the US. It makes use of something called Suspended Particle Device or SPD Smart Glass. This is basically toughened glass built to “strong impacts and vibrations”.
When LG’s OLED tech is off, the displays are basically just windows. You can look through them at the scenery whipping by if there happens to be any. If you’re in a subway, you probably don’t need a window all the time. It’s just there to stop you from panicking and wrecking the place. It’s able to broadcast ads, weather reports, and other information while maintaining transparency. LG reckons that its SPD layer, when activated, blocks up to 99% of light, meaning you can have actual detailed ads on your window as well. Assuming that’s something you want.
It won’t come to South Africa any time soon, because… well, reasons. But putting ads on train windows is just a short jump away from putting ads on… well, all the windows. LG’s also demonstrated its Show Windows, which uses four 55in transparent OLED screens to offer similar features on a greater scale. Those cyberpunk movies that show ads on glass pretty much everywhere? Yeah, that future’s coming. Once companies can afford it, that is.