If we look at the basics of the technology behind it we find that in its simplistic form it is the heating up of tiny cells with inert gasses trapped between two panels of glass that comprise a Plasma Display Screen.



Again to be simplistic about it effectively what happens is that the gas in the cells is electronically turned into plasma which then triggers off a reaction with the gas and causes phosphors to emit light therefore depending on the temperature of the gasses and the electrical current depends which colours the phosphors turn into.

Now this is admittedly a gross over simplification of how Plasma Technology works and may cause the palpitations and increased heart rate if possibly every �techno geek� known to man but in its very essence this is what it does.

Developed in 1964 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne the actual technology of Plasma displays has been around for some time and indeed is possibly the oldest of the so called �second generation� of technologies in use in television today.

Screen sizes for plasma displays vary and have increased somewhat since the humble 21 inch displays launched in 1992 and now you can get plasma displays in a variety of sizes and you can now find commercial displays available in excess of 103 inches in screen size.

To a certain degree the superior brightness, faster response time and the greater colour spectrum, wider viewing angle of colour plasma displays have over the years �ruled the roost� with regards to large screen displays however technology has changed with regards to LCD TVs and the technological gap has narrowed.

In these eco friendly times you will find that one of the main selling points with LCD screens nowadays lies with the fact that Plasma tend to be very power hungry (and as such warm) and by and large heavier so very much of an environmental disaster zone as far as TV�s are concerned.

From 2006 onwards industry analysts noted that effectively LCD TV�s were overtaking plasma displays particularly in the large a 40inch plus market where basically plasma previously enjoyed a massive dominance since the inception of technology. Another interesting industry trend is that effectively manufacture of plasma displays has consolidated from about 50 odd plus brands available but these are only from five manufactures so the upshot of that is that plasma technology is fighting back in terms of economy of scale because as you can imagine with 50 brands from five manufactures there are certain economies of scale with regards to the reduced duplication of internal technology.

{Historically the superior brightness of Plasma Technology made it a favourite amongst TV designers for the faith rendition it gave the picture quality however this is now starting to be matched with the latest and better quality LCD TV�s appearing into the marketplace.|Over the years it has been felt that some of the technological aspects of Plasma technology leant it self more to the higher end of screen performances such as greater brightness control, screen resolution etc) however this is now changing. Whereas LCD was very much seen as a cross between the poorer relation and junior technology of the two, now things have changed and LCD is seen as being very much the technology of the future.