Series Editor’s Foreword
For once, I found it difficult to know how to begin. Writing forewords for the Wiley-SID series (this is my twentieth) is a demanding but extremely pleasurable task. In a qualitative sense this foreword is no different; it is the book that is different. Let me explain.
On reading two sample chapters of Robert Chen’s manuscript, I realized that this would be like no other book in the series. Not only was its intended scope to cover the entirety of liquid crystal display (LCD) science and technology from the fundamentals of mathematics and physics to the production of products, but it was written by an author who has not only the academic background but also the experience as an executive in several major companies to provide first-hand insight and understanding of the global development of what is now a predominantly Asia-based industry.
The author has covered his subject matter with great proficiency and style. But there is more: the book is filled with interesting footnotes, often witty, of technical or historical relevance or a combination of all three. The most significant references are cited, but this is not a book where the reader will find a comprehensive list of all relevant publications. Other books in the series which address specific aspects of the technology provide that.
The unique feature of this book is that when discussing the global industrial development of the LCD industry, the author provides an account which is unprecedented—certainly ...
