‘Natural Reality’ is LG Display’s OLED philosophy of recreating visuals as true to the human eye as possible. Through groundbreaking research into OLED technology, the company is not only bringing this philosophy to life but also pushing the boundaries to develop displays that prioritize people.
At LG Display, experts are dedicated to realizing a human-friendly technological philosophy to deliver the customer value of ‘enjoying the best picture quality while protecting your health.’ Jangjin Yoo and Jaehong Kim from the Image Quality International Standards Task, are among the key figures driving this effort.
Advancing Blue Light Research: LG Display’s Human-Friendly Solution
The Image Quality International Standards Task formulates hypotheses about how LG Display’s OLED impacts users, ranging from picture quality to eye health and circadian rhythms, and tests these hypotheses using objective standards. For instance, they explore ways to design displays that protect eye health and do not disrupt sleep, working to minimize the potential impact of displays on the human body. This research aligns with LG Display’s OLED philosophy of ‘Natural Reality,’ which strives to reproduce human vision as naturally as possible.
The team’s efforts are centered on developing ‘human-friendly displays.’ Their priority is understanding how innovations affect users and incorporating these insights into their designs.
The relationship between displays and sleep was identified through observations of a common struggle—difficulty falling asleep after watching TV or using a smartphone late at night. This phenomenon became the starting point for the team’s research. Blue light, a type of visible light, increases as screen brightness rises. Prolonged exposure to blue light can cause eye strain and make it harder to fall asleep. Considering these factors, the team began dedicated research on blue light, which began in earnest in 2019, naturally expanded to explore its effects on circadian rhythms.
The research confirmed that blue light suppresses the secretion of melatonin, a hormone essential for inducing sleep. While melatonin helps improve focus during the day, its suppression at night can lead to sleep disturbances. Instead of relying solely on blue light-blocking films or glasses, the team found that displays with lower blue light emissions offer a more effective solution.
Human-Friendly OLED for Healthy Eyes and Restful Nights
In July, LG Display collaborated with Kookmin University to study how TVs affect the human body. The study involved 40 adults who alternated between watching LCD TVs and OLED TVs for two hours at night, after which their melatonin levels were measured. As mentioned earlier, melatonin is crucial for regulating circadian rhythms and supporting healthy sleep. The results were remarkable: melatonin levels dropped by 2.7% after watching an LCD TV but increased by 8.1% after watching an OLED TV.
In short, LG Display’s OLED does not interfere with melatonin secretion, helping to maintain healthier sleep patterns and delivering a differentiated customer value as a safe display.
The key difference between OLED and LCD lies in how light is emitted. LCDs rely on a backlight that continuously emits strong light, with blue light accounting for 70–80% of the output. In contrast, OLED is self-emissive, meaning each pixel generates its own light. This self-emissive structure reduces the proportion of blue light to just 36%, about half that of LCDs, contributing to healthier sleep patterns.
LG Display’s OLED emits the lowest levels of blue light among all existing OLED panels. Additionally, LG Display’s OLED prioritizes both sleep quality and eye health. It minimizes eye strain even during extended viewing and eliminates screen flicker, preventing vision deterioration.
LG Display OLED: Setting the Global Standard for Healthy Viewing Experiences
LG Display’s OLED stands out by delivering exceptional picture quality while minimizing blue light emissions. Its ability to achieve perfect blacks eliminates the need for excessively high brightness, ensuring sharp and vivid visuals in any environment. Additionally, LG Display’s proprietary ‘META Technology’ enhances resolution, brightness, and color accuracy, providing a more immersive and vibrant viewing experience.
LG Display has garnered recognition from prominent global organizations for its commitment to delivering exceptional picture quality while prioritizing viewer health. The first recognition for the team’s research, which began in 2019, came with the Eye Comfort Display certification from TÜV Rheinland. At that time, studies on blue light were limited to a few theoretical models related to lighting, which were not directly applicable to display research. The team adapted these models for large TVs, recalibrated the calculations, and scientifically validated the results—a process that took over three months and was far from easy.
Building on this foundation, LG Display developed human-friendly displays and introduced the ‘Circadian Certification.’ This certification evaluates the impact of blue light emissions on circadian rhythms, which follow a 24-hour cycle and are significantly influenced by light. Prolonged screen exposure at night can disrupt these rhythms, but LG Display’s proprietary evaluation methods ensured its OLED panels became the first in the industry to earn this certification from Eyesafe, a U.S.-based eye safety organization.
In addition to these achievements, LG Display’s OLED has earned various eye comfort certifications from global organizations. It has been verified as free from flicker, reflection (which can disrupt viewing), and discomfort glare caused by extreme brightness variations. These certifications serve as another important criterion for consumers to choose a good display.
Harmony Between Displays and People: A New Paradigm for Next-Generation Displays
LG Display demonstrates its commitment to advancing picture quality through continuous technological innovation while also setting new standards to evaluate and improve the impact of displays on people. Guided by a philosophy centered on customer value, the company’s research has established a unique competitive advantage in the global display market. By scientifically analyzing user experiences, LG Display continues to lead the global display industry. For more insights into its innovative approach and leadership, check out the video below!
