LEP stands for Light Emitting Polymers. It is a synthetic that can be lit up through the use of electricity, therefore bringing reality to the idea of watching television on a device wrapped around your wrist. A LEP screen needs only 5 Volts to work.
In cooperation with research institute Cambridge Display Technologies, Seiko-Epson have produced a prototype of 5x5 centimeters. The plastic was only 2 millimeters thick and provided for monochrome moving pictures. The researchers plan to go public with a 30-centimeter wide full colour plastic television screen.
LEP was invented by coincidence in the University of Cambridge Cavendish laboratory in 1989. The University has a 25 percent ownership in Cambridge Display Technologies, which possesses the worldwide patent on LEP. The technology could be useful for PC's and video cameras. License holder Philips is developing plans to provide portable phones with LEP screens.