Samsung have announced a contest for flexible display ideas!

FYI; Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and LG are all working on flexible OLED/LCD display panels for all types of mobile devices.

http://www.oled-info.com/samsung-youm
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/05/20/coming-soon-mobile-phones-with-flexible-oled-screens/

These types of displays are designed to be bended around devices, and could be mounted wraparound inside a HMD.

Samsung have announced that some devices will be released this year with their "Youm" series flexible display panels.

This technology might not be mature for first-generation Oculus Rifts, so they could be the future for high FOV HMD.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/samsung-shows-of-latest-biggest-bendiest-amoled-prototype/
http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/samsung-names-flexible-oled-display-series-youm-shows-prototype/



You still just use one panel like Oculus Rift, but instead, the display would be bent in a half-circle around you head.

This way the HMD headset could achieve a much more sleek profile, like the original Oculus Rift design concept.


CNET first look at Samsung's Youm flexible displays



Samsung YOUM flexible AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED)full official announcement presentation



Samsung video demo resilience of Flexible AMOLED Display with "hammer test"

Copy of the contest official press release:

"Samsung Announces the Samsung Create: Flexible Future Business Plan Competition

The Samsung Create: Flexible Future Business Plan Competition encourages entrepreneurs to develop new business ideas incorporating Samsung's flexible display technology

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in consumer electronics and other core components, together with Samsung Display Co., Ltd., a global leader in display panel technologies and products, today announced the launch of the Samsung Create: Flexible Future Business Plan Competition. Hosted by the Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center, the competition seeks to encourage designers, hardware engineers and entrepreneurs to begin thinking about future start-ups ideas using flexible display technology.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges who will take into consideration the following*:

Importance of flexible display technology in the core value proposition of the product
Exceptional design, realistic hardware assumptions and a viable business plan
The applicant deemed by the panel of judges to have the best entry will receive a prize of US$10,000. Second and third place winners will receive US$5,000 and US$2,500, respectively. Applications will be accepted through an online submission form starting on August 29, 2013 until October 6, 2013.

For more information, please visit http://www.samsung.com/us/flexiblefuture.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The Samsung Flexible Future Business Plan Contest starts 8/29/13 at 12:00:00 PM ET and ends on 10/6/13 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Open only to eligible legal residents of the 50 U.S. states (D.C.) who are 18 years or older at time of entry. Visit http://www.samsung.com/us/flexiblefuture for details on entry instructions and guidelines, judging criteria, prize details, restrictions, etc. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules. Sponsor: Samsung Semiconductor Inc., 3655 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134."

More information and comments about the concept behind Samsung's contest posted on Engadget and PhoneArena:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/14/samsungs-flexible-display-contest/

"Samsung's flexible display contest offers cash for device ideas, business plans

Samsung's been so busy getting its flexible displays (aka "Youm") consumer-ready, it's now got no clue what to actually do with them. As such, it's decided to pay others to be idea-men, launching the "Flexible Future Business Plan Competition" in the US. Starting August 29th and running to October 6th, the contest is calling for nifty gadget concepts that use one to 20 inches of flexible display at up to full HD resolution. They'll be judged on how important a flexible display is to the device, as well as design, practicality of hardware and business plan. The winner will receive $10k, with second and third place taking $5k and $2.5k, respectively. Samsung hopes you'll head to the source link for the full lowdown, because there are only so many bendy smartwatches one can sell before you need other gear to put wobbly panels in."

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-contest-pays-10000-for-best-business-plan-using-a-flexible-display_id46381

"Samsung contest pays $10,000 for best business plan using a flexible display

If you have a great idea on how to change people's lives with the use of a flexible display, you could win some cash from Samsung. The Korean OEM's Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center and Samsung Display are both hosting the Flexible Future Business Plan Contest. Starting on Noon ET on August 29th, you can submit a business plan that must feature the use of a flexible display. In other words, current screen technology cannot be used for your plan. Your idea must be designed for a high volume market that is viable from a commercial standpoint and has to show a positive risk/reward ratio for Venture Capitalists. In other words, your plan must have the ability to make money.

Samsung is not requiring that entrants put a timeline in their plan. If you do use one, it can be a simple T+6months, for example. Samsung also is not asking you to make assumptions on what your idea would cost. Instead, they want you to figure out what value your business plan creates and compute how much you could pay for flexible displays to make your business plan commercially viable.

At the sourcelink is a number of rules that you need to read before submitting your business plan. If you get your plan in by September 15th, you will be eligible to receive feedback from Samsung about your plan. The final submission date is October 6th. The best business plan wins $10,000 while there is a $5000 second place prize and $2500 for third place. Good Luck!"