The 1986 quest for the perfect portable computer screen

Nature · Published 30 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1986, engineers were racing to solve a fundamental hardware dilemma: how to create a display that was portable, high-contrast, and low-power without sacrificing image quality.

This BBC Archive clip explores the technological crossroads of the mid-1980s. At the time, manufacturers were weighing the trade-offs between emerging backlit LCD technology from Sharp and early plasma displays from Toshiba, both of which struggled with issues like weight, power consumption, and flicker.

The footage highlights a search for a 'holy grail' screen—one that could mimic the definition of a printed page while remaining radiation-free. It features research at STL Labs in Harlow on a new display type designed to be viewed from any angle without constant refreshing.

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