The LCD display market has ballooned into a $130 billion industry and exciting innovations continue to keep pushing advances. Azumo CEO Mike Casper explains how his company is ushering in a "new era" of display technology in an interview with Digital Signage Today.

Jan. 28, 2022 | by Kevin Damask — Editor, Digital Signage Today

The LCD display market has ballooned into a $130 billion industry and exciting innovations continue to keep pushing advances.

In recent years, however, manufacturers have been tasked with trying to make LCD's not only more convenient, but also more energy efficient.

Azumo, a display company based in Chicago, dived into the LCD marketplace in 2008. Since '08, the company has expanded its global reach and have opened an office in China. CEO Mike Casper co-founded the company and has also served as president since its origins.

Azumo boasts that its LCD 2.0 line has ushered in a "new age of display technology." Casper believes the display has the durability to stand up to all environments while maintaining charging power for up to a week. But in a crowded LCD industry, what makes Azumo's products really stand out? How does it improve digital signage?

Intrigued, Digital Signage Today reached out to Casper via email for a Q&A interview to learn more.

Q: Can you give some more background on Azumo?

A: Azumo is a breakthrough display company revolutionizing a $130 billion industry. Our lightguide technology delivers on the promise of LCD 2.0TM — making displays energy efficient, effective in all environments (including in bright sunlight) and providing a more natural way to look at our screens. This improves user experience and extends battery life on devices ranging from consumer electronics, medical devices, industrial applications, and beyond.

Q: Describe Azumo's tech. How is it different from other LCDs?

A: Our display, LCD 2.0, is a reflective display that is very low-power. Devices with LCD 2.0 can last for days, not hours, on a single charge. Reflective displays traditionally can only be viewed in very bright light (like reading a book) but LCD 2.0 can be viewed in all lighting conditions. Since LCD 2.0 uses a front light, instead of a traditional backlight, there is significantly less blue light emitted and is easier on the eyes. Azumo's innovation is a front-lit, reflective display. The screen uses 90% less energy than a backlit screen and can run for up to a week on a single charge. It leverages ambient light around the device and directs the light to the display itself, as opposed to a backlight that beams light through the screen and toward your face.

Q: How do you manufacture your tech? Is it integrated during manufacturer or is it added on later?

A: Azumo's front light is a component that is added to the display, similarly to how a touch panel is added to a display during the final assembly. Our product uses roll-to-roll optical film manufacturing processing on our proprietary product lines. We then utilize global electronics manufacturing partners to perform the final electro-mechanical assembly and integration with the display.

Q: How does it work in terms of large digital signage? Is it expensive?

A: Same format as for smaller wearable displays, just at a larger size scale. Reflective LCDs are produced on multi-billion-dollar LCD fab lines which produce large LCD panels over 10 feet by 10 feet in size! These are then cut down into smaller sections depending on the final desired display size. Azumo's front light is produced using optical film that fits these displays. Because this process utilizes LCD production equipment it is very cost effective, especially when compared against mini LED displays which often has millions of LEDs per display.

Q: Are you working with any well-known partners to get this tech installed in digital signage?

A: Azumo is currently a value-added partner with Sharp and their preferred front light supplier. While our joint commercial displays are meant for wearable and other handheld products today, there is increasing demand for this technology in signage applications.

Q: How much power does it save?

A: In outdoor environments this technology can save up to 90% of the energy consumption

Q: Where do you see digital signage headed in the next five years?

A: Here a few areas where I see digital signage going in the next few years:

• Lower power consumption • Smaller form factors which are more naturally integrated into our daily activities and not only on big bulky billboards • Custom content • Leveraging the continued rollout/expansion of 5G

Kevin Damask is the editor of Digital Signage Today. He has more than 15 years of journalism experience, having covered local news for a variety of print and online publications.

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