TV screens that can be rolled up like a piece of paper or used as wallpaper could be available in the next few years.

Scientists at Nanoco in Manchester, England, have created light emitting particles 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human strand of hair.

Known as quantum dot technology, the light particles can be produced to emit any colour and printed onto flexible plastic to create ultra-thin televisions.

Nanoco said quantum dot technology offers better picture quality and lasts longer than traditional liquid crystal display (LCD) screens.

The company are working on small personal devices to begin with, but hope to develop bigger projects.

“Something else we are looking at is reels of wallpaper or curtains made out of a material that has quantum dots printed on it,” a spokesman for Nanoco told the Daily Mail.

Nanoco are reported to be working with major Asian electronic companies to produce the first quantum dot technology TV by the end of next year.

The flexible screens could be in the shops within the next three years.

In 2010, Sony unveiled a super-thin OLED screen which can still stream video while being rolled up.

Last week a Finnish company revealed it has developed a touchscreen that allows you to "feel" what you are touching.

The technology uses electric “tixels” - instead of pixels – which “pull” the skin of the finger towards the surface of a computer screen. Creator Senseg says the effect means something like a rough-looking wall can actually feel like stone.



