How Display Makers Are Pursuing Eye-Comfortable Displays

I was impressed to read about the lengths to which display makers were going to improve eye comfort for users. Let’s look at the new TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus 11” tablet, as an example.

First introduced in 2020, NXTPAPER is a hardware and software combination designed to manage blue light output from devices “while maintaining excellent visual quality.” It does this by optimizing blue peak light output so it sits within the safe band of 457 to 462.5 nm.

The technology also employs a nano-etched surface layer to nip glare in the bud, a mid-layer that “utilizes diffuse reflection to soften light emissions” and a bottom layer “specifically designed to lower blue light emissions at the hardware level.” Meanwhile display properties are tweaked for a “comfortable reading experience without undue eye strain.”

By version 3.0, the paper-like reading experience was enhanced even further with the addition of a RGB sensor that registered the color temperature of ambient light and used those values to adjust the TCL device’s color scheme for optimum eye comfort. DC dimming, 120 Hz refresh and an auto night light mode were also added in.

Earlier this year, TCL unleashed NXTPAPER 4.0 – featuring “sophisticated nano-matrix lithography technology” for improved clarity and sharpness, Delta color accuracy of less than one (lower is better), and two new modes. The Smart Eye Comfort Mode automatically adjusts screen brightness, contrast, color temp, saturation and so on with the help of AI, while the Personalized mode puts the user in charge of screen settings.

At the same time, TCL launched the new version in the 11 Plus tablet, which is now available in the US through Walmart for US$249. The 11.5-inch, 2,200 x 1,440-pixel slate can be used just like a conventional tablet, or – with the push of a button – switch to NXTPAPER e-paper modes for less fatiguing long-hall use, however, with some loss of color-richness. Brightness is up to 450 nits in normal usage, but gets a boost to 550 nits when under sunlight.

It will be interesting to see if any efforts toward eye comfort made by the display industry will make their way to the lighting industry.

More information is available here.

Image: TCL’s NXTPAPER 11 Plus 11” eye-friendly tablet. Courtesy of TCL.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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