I read an article recently that really blew my mind.  It was about wallpaper that can glow with light and bendable flat-panel screens which are all a step closer thanks to research into organic LEDs (OLEDs), which are hailed as the next generation of environmentally friendly lighting technology.

OLEDs use little power to produce light, even compared with modern energy-saving bulbs.

The chemicals they are made from can be painted on to thin, flexible surfaces, potentially allowing traditional light bulbs in homes and offices to be replaced with panels of energy-efficient light built into walls, windows or even furniture. Other uses include flexible display screens, whose low power consumption would mean they could operate without mains power, for example as traffic warning signs powered by small solar panels.

Lomox Limited, a UK Company, has been awarded more than GBP450,000 by the U.K. government-backed Carbon Trust to accelerate the development of its OLED technology.

The company will focus its efforts on getting the first of its OLEDs to market by 2012, mainly for outdoor lighting. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2009